Federal Judge Approves Major Copyright Settlement Allowing AI Training Use

Recent legal developments highlight the evolving landscape of copyright law amid technological advancements and regulatory scrutiny. In California, a federal judge preliminarily approved a landmark settlement where authors sued AI company Anthropic for unauthorized use of copyrighted work in AI training, signaling a potential shift in AI copyright policies. Meanwhile, courts in Connecticut and Florida addressed various copyright infringement claims, with rulings emphasizing issues like fair use and the limits of trade practices claims preempted by copyright law. Kenya's High Court invalidated draft copyright tariffs due to inadequate public participation, underscoring the importance of meaningful stakeholder engagement in copyright regulation. In Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal recognized the emerging tort of copyright misuse as a potentially viable defense in a dispute involving Bell Canada and film studios, although it upheld initial rulings striking pleadings lacking material facts. These cases collectively illustrate growing judicial attention to balancing copyright protection, fair use, and procedural fairness in the digital age.