The intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law continues to generate significant legal battles in 2026. From new lawsuits against major tech companies to ongoing cases challenging the boundaries of copyright in AI-generated works, the year has already seen notable developments that could impact the future of creative industries. Here’s a breakdown of the most important updates from January 2026.
New Lawsuits Targeting AI Copyright Infringement
Two fresh lawsuits were filed in January, adding to the growing list of legal disputes involving AI and copyright, which now totals approximately 75 cases.
YouTubers Sue Snap Over Generative AI Model
A group of YouTubers launched a class action lawsuit on January 23 against Snap, Inc., alleging that their videos were scraped and used without permission to train Snap’s generative AI model, Imagine Lens. The lawsuit accuses Snap of violating Section 1201(a) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), among other claims. The legal argument mirrors ongoing cases against ByteDance and Meta, further highlighting the industry’s struggle to protect creators’ intellectual property in the age of generative AI.
Music Publishers File Second Case Against Anthropic
Music publishers, including Concord Music Group, filed a second lawsuit against Anthropic on January 28. The complaint focuses on the alleged use of pirated musical compositions to train Anthropic’s Claude AI models. Plaintiffs claim that Anthropic accessed works from notorious pirate sites like Library Genesis for training purposes, violating copyright laws. This second case builds on their earlier lawsuit but introduces new allegations of ongoing infringement related to subsequent versions of the Claude AI model.
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Progress in Existing AI Copyright Disputes
In addition to new filings, several ongoing legal battles have seen significant developments in early 2026.
Google Generative AI Lawsuit Sees Publisher Intervention
On January 15, Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group filed a motion to intervene as class representatives for publishers in the consolidated lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit accuses Google of copying millions of books to train its Gemini AI model. The publishers have provided ten representative works allegedly used in the development of the model, further intensifying the litigation.
NVIDIA Accused of Using Pirated Books
In a consolidated class action against NVIDIA, plaintiffs amended their complaint on January 16 to allege that the company used pirated books sourced from platforms such as Anna’s Archive and the Internet Archive to train its Nemotron AI models. This case underscores the ongoing scrutiny of how tech companies source data for AI training.
U.S. Copyright Office Battles Jason Allen Over AI-Generated Art
On January 16, the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) filed a response brief in its legal dispute with Jason Allen, who is challenging the Office’s refusal to register his AI-assisted artwork, Theatre D’Opera Spatial. The USCO emphasized that the artwork, created using the AI model Midjourney, lacks the necessary human authorship to qualify for copyright protection. According to the agency, Allen’s failure to disclaim the AI-generated elements and the nature of his requested relief were central to its decision.
Broader Legislative and Governmental Action
While court battles dominate the headlines, legislative and regulatory moves are also shaping the copyright landscape for AI.
House Subcommittee Examines Trade and IP Issues
On January 13, the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on digital trade and intellectual property. There was bipartisan agreement on the importance of IP to economic growth, but opinions differed on trade policy’s role in innovation and workforce impacts in the AI era. Witnesses highlighted the need for balanced approaches to protect creative industries.
TRAIN Act Introduced in the House
On January 22, the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. This bill aims to create a process that helps copyright owners identify whether their works have been used for AI training. It builds upon a similar Senate bill introduced earlier, signaling growing legislative attention to AI-related copyright issues.
International and Regional Updates
The debate over copyright and AI extends beyond the U.S., with notable developments in both South Korea and the European Union.
South Korean Creators Oppose AI Policy Changes
South Korean creator groups voiced their concerns about the government’s new AI-focused policy, the "Korea AI Action Plan", which proposes amending copyright laws to allow the use of copyrighted works for AI training with remuneration and opt-out options. Critics argue that this "use first, pay later" approach could harm the nation’s cultural and creative industries.
European Parliament Pushes for Stronger AI Copyright Protections
Members of the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee adopted proposals on January 28 to enhance copyright protections for generative AI systems. Key measures include requiring transparency from AI providers about the use of copyrighted materials, introducing fair remuneration for creators, and protecting news publishers’ content. The initiative will proceed to a plenary vote in March.
Court Decisions and Injunctions
Recent rulings in high-profile copyright cases also highlight the evolving legal interpretations of copyright law in the digital era.
Spotify and Record Labels Win Injunction Against Anna’s Archive
Spotify and a group of record labels secured a preliminary injunction on January 20 against the operators of Anna’s Archive. The court ordered the suspension of the site, which had scraped metadata for millions of audio tracks from Spotify and threatened to release pirated songs. This ruling is a major victory for the music industry in its fight against piracy.
Ninth Circuit Questions Copyright Infringement Test
In a case involving tattoo artist Kat Von D, the Ninth Circuit on January 2 affirmed a lower court judgment in her favor but criticized the existing "total concept and feel" test used to determine substantial similarity in copyright cases. Judges suggested the test might need to be reexamined, signaling potential changes for future infringement cases.
Sovereign Immunity Case in Fourth Circuit Nears Conclusion
On January 23, the Fourth Circuit directed the district court to dismiss Allen v. Stein, a decade-long case addressing the scope of copyright termination rights. The decision, which reverses an earlier ruling, may finally bring this dispute to an end.
Looking Ahead
As legal and legislative efforts to address AI and copyright continue, these early 2026 developments provide a glimpse into the challenges and opportunities ahead. Whether through new lawsuits, court rulings, or policy changes, the balance between innovation and intellectual property protection is set to remain a central issue for the foreseeable future.
