The Fall of Z-Library: The “Burning of the Library of Alexandria” or Protection for Authors Against AI Companies

Authors

Lisa Silveira, Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of LawFollow

Abstract

The development and advancement of artificial intelligence (“AI”) is changing the way we use technology while creating an ongoing battle between media and technology companies. With AI companies gathering data from the internet to train programs like ChatGPT, authors have growing concerns about unpermitted use of their work when pirated copies of their books exist illegally online through shadow libraries. This article examines the popular shadow library known as Z-Library and the views of its proponents and opponents. In addition, this article will discuss the training process AI companies use and the data sets containing content from shadow libraries. While companies like Getty Images and The New York Times filed suit against AI companies, this article specifically focuses on the class action lawsuits filed by authors for unauthorized use of their books to train AI models. Copyright law may offer a solution to protect these author’s works. This article will examine the current limitations of copyright law and the difficulties of proving copyright infringement. This article attempts to explore the current legal action, claims these authors raise, and possible defenses they will have to overcome. This article will also examine solutions like agreements with authors and paying them royalties to compensate them for the use of their work. Regardless of how the court cases come out, these authors need a solution to ensure their content is not exploited by AI companies.

Recommended Citation

Lisa Silveira, The Fall of Z-Library: The “Burning of the Library of Alexandria” or Protection for Authors Against AI Companies, 27 SMU Sci. & Tech. L. Rev. 119 (2024)