French publishers sued Meta over EU AI copyright violations
Several French publishing associations, including the National Publishing Union (SNE), Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL), and National Union of Authors and Composers (SNAC), initiated legal proceedings against Meta before the Paris Judicial Court. The complaint focuses on Meta’s alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted works to train its generative AI models, potentially violating the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which came into effect in August 2024. The associations aim to safeguard the rights of authors, creators, and publishers impacted by the use of their work in AI training.
The EU AI Act mandates that generative AI systems adhere to transparency requirements and EU copyright laws. This includes disclosing whether content is AI-generated, preventing illegal content generation, and publishing summaries of copyrighted data used for training. Meta is accused of breaching these provisions by failing to comply with transparency rules and using copyrighted materials without authorization. The organizations demand the removal of data directories created unlawfully and seek compensation for affected creators and publishers.
Vincent Montagne, president of the SNE, emphasized the importance of balancing AI market development with the protection of the cultural sector. The legal action serves to reinforce the principle that technological advancements should not undermine the rights of authors and creators. The complaint aligns with broader efforts in Europe and internationally to ensure AI development respects intellectual property laws and cultural rights.
Meta has faced growing scrutiny in Europe, including complaints related to its advertising practices. While the UK does not fall under the EU AI Act, discussions about copyright laws and their application to AI training models have also gained traction. In February 2025, a global charter presented at the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence highlighted the need for AI innovation to align with copyright protections and cultural sector rights.
