AI Training and Copyright Tensions Continue to Shake Publishing

Few topics have stirred as much debate in the publishing world over the past year as the use of copyrighted books by artificial intelligence companies. Many AI firms have relied on massive collections of books to train large language models, raising serious concerns about copyright, consent, and compensation.

Lawsuits Spotlight How AI Firms Obtain Books

The controversy has already led to dozens of lawsuits. One of the most closely watched cases, Bartz v. Anthropic, resulted in a reported $1.5 billion settlement. In his ruling, Judge William Alsup drew an important distinction. He stated that using books for AI training could fall under fair use, but acquiring those books through illegal piracy did not. The problem, he ruled, was not training itself, but how the material was sourced.

AI Companies Shift Toward Buying Physical Books

Following these legal battles, AI developers appear to be changing tactics. According to a recent letter sent by Ingram Content Group to its publishing partners, AI companies are increasingly purchasing physical copies of books. These copies are then scanned and used to train AI systems.

This approach differs from e-books, which are typically licensed rather than sold outright. E-book licenses usually limit copying, sharing, or reuse, making them less flexible for large-scale data extraction.

Ingram Responds to Publisher Concerns

Ingram acknowledged that some publishers are uncomfortable with their books being used for AI training, even when the purchases are legal. In response, the company said it will respect publisher preferences whenever possible.

Publishers who do not want their books sold directly to AI companies are now being asked to complete an opt-out form. This allows Ingram to flag those titles and avoid knowingly supplying them to AI buyers.

Limits to Enforcement Remain

Ingram also noted that identifying whether a buyer is an AI company is not always straightforward. While the distributor said it cannot guarantee full enforcement. It committed to making reasonable efforts to honor publisher requests and increase transparency around the issue.

A Growing Industry Divide

The move highlights a widening gap between legal rights and ethical concerns in publishing. While the first-sale doctrine allows buyers to use legally purchased books as they choose, many publishers are seeking more control over how their work is used in the age of artificial intelligence.

As AI development accelerates. The debate over consent, fair use, and author rights is expected to remain a central issue for the publishing industry.

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