News/Media Alliance Joins Brief Supporting Music Publisher’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction Against Anthropic in Copyright Infringement Case

The Alliance, along with other leading trade associations representing record labels, music publishers, book publishers, and various artist and songwriter groups, moved to file a new amicus brief in an ongoing litigation between Anthropic and three music publishers, after the case was transferred from the Middle District of Tennessee to the Northern District of California. In Concord Music Group, Inc. v. Anthropic PBC several large music publishers filed a lawsuit in October of 2023 accusing Anthropic of copyright infringement and DMCA violations. Plaintiffs sought a preliminary injunction requiring Anthropic to implement effective guardrails to its model to prevent unauthorized future copying of Publishers' lyrics or outputs. The amicus brief supports Plaintiff's motion and explains that licensing for GAI is possible, and that Anthropic's copying far exceeds a fair use. The brief outlines how an injunction seeking to enjoin future unauthorized copying would not cause harm to Anthropic. It argues the motion is in the public interest and would protect the constitutional purpose of copyright and rights of creators and rightsholders, while not unduly impeding AI progress.

The brief was joined by trade groups including the Recording Industry Association of America, National Music Publishers' Association, Association of American Publishers, American Association of Independent Music, as well as the songwriter and artist groups Songwriters of Northern America, Black Music Action Coalition, Music Artists Coalition, and Artist Rights Alliance.