Class actions > Meta AI Copyright

Meta AI CopyrightACTIVE

MacKinnon v Meta Platforms Inc. and Facebook Canada Ltd.

Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) created a series of AI large language models (LLMs) called “Llama”. The plaintiff allege that in training these models, Meta unlawfully used copyrighted materials including books authored by Canadian residents.

Class Members: This action is brought on behalf of all holders of Canadian copyright resident in Canada, excluding residents of the Province of Quebec, whose Canadian copyrighted works were reproduced without permission by the Defendants and used without permission by Defendants as training data for Meta’s LLaMA language models.

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Overview

CourtSupreme Court of British Columbia

Date FiledApril 16, 2025

CO-COUNSEL Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP

A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed in Vancouver against Meta Platforms Inc. and Facebook Canada Inc. (collectively “Meta”)

The plaintiff alleges that Meta violated copyright held by Canadian authors when training its large language models called “Llama”. Specifically, the plaintiff alleges that Meta downloaded two data sets, the “Books3” dataset and the Library Genesis or “LibGen” dataset. These datasets contained large amounts of copyrighted works, including books and articles by Canadian authors. The plaintiff alleges that Meta used and unlawfully copied and shared these copyrighted works, and did not license or otherwise obtain permission to do so from the copyright holders.

If you have any questions about the case or information that you think may assist our investigation, please contact us. Any communication is strictly confidential.

Contact: Oliver Pulleyblank
Phone: 604.697.2480 ext. 240
Email: [email protected]

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