Two of the world's leading publishing houses have launched a legal offensive against tech giant Google, alleging the company illegally used copyrighted books to power its artificial intelligence systems. Hachette Book Group and Cengage Group formally asked a federal court in California on Thursday for permission to join a proposed class action lawsuit against Google.
The Core of the Allegations
In their proposed complaint, the publishers delivered a stark accusation. They claim Google "engaged in one of the most prolific infringements of copyrighted materials in history" to build its AI capabilities. The suit alleges that Google copied content from a vast array of Hachette books and Cengage textbooks without seeking permission or providing compensation to the rights holders.
The publishers cited ten specific examples of their works that were allegedly misused. These include books by renowned authors such as Scott Turow and N.K. Jemisin, which Google is accused of using to train its Gemini large language model. This move significantly escalates the existing lawsuit, which already involves groups of visual artists and authors.
Bolstering the Legal Battle
Maria Pallante, CEO of the Association of American Publishers, explained the rationale behind their intervention. "We believe our participation will bolster the case," she stated, "especially because publishers are uniquely positioned to address many of the legal, factual, and evidentiary questions before the Court." Their entry into the fray could substantially increase the potential damages Google might face if found liable.
This case is part of a growing wave of high-stakes litigation where creators—including artists, authors, and music labels—are challenging tech companies over the use of their work to train generative AI. In a notable precedent, AI company Anthropic settled a similar lawsuit last year for a reported $1.5 billion with a group of authors over its AI chatbot, Claude.
What Happens Next?
The publishers are seeking an unspecified amount of monetary damages on behalf of themselves and a broader class of authors and publishers. The decision on whether to allow Hachette and Cengage to formally join the case now rests with US District Judge Eumi Lee in California.
At the time of the filing, spokespeople for Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the publishers' bid to intervene. The outcome of this legal battle is being closely watched, as it could establish critical boundaries for the use of copyrighted material in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
