Elvis Presley rightsholders sue Anthropic over AI training on songs

The companies that control Elvis Presley's music have sued Anthropic. They accuse the AI company of training its AI models on Presley's music without permission, Billboard reported. The suit was filed on Friday, Oct. 23, according to Billboard.

The lawsuit claims Anthropic infringed 274 of Presley's copyrighted songs. The claims are allegations, and Anthropic had not responded at the time of reporting.

Key facts

• The suit claims Anthropic infringed 274 Presley songs, according to Billboard.
• It seeks $150,000 per infringed track, or roughly $41 million, Rolling Stone reported.
• The case is titled ABE EPE LLC v. Anthropic.
• It was filed by a unit of Authentic Brands Group, along with other Elvis rights owners.
• A representative for Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Billboard said.

What the lawsuit claims

The plaintiffs say Anthropic used Presley's recordings to build its technology without a license. The suit claims Anthropic used the music to create technology that makes "unlicensed derivative works," according to Billboard.

The songs named in the complaint include some of Presley's best-known hits. Billboard lists "Can't Help Falling in Love," "A Little Less Conversation" and "Don't Be Cruel" among them, along with "All Shook Up," "Return to Sender" and "(You're The) Devil in Disguise."

The suit also targets Anthropic's safety measures. It claims that Claude kept producing infringing output even after Anthropic added "guardrails" following earlier lawsuits, Rolling Stone reported. That claim has not been tested in court.

The plaintiffs want large damages. Rolling Stone reported the suit seeks $150,000 for each infringed track, or roughly $41 million in total.

Lead attorney Richard Busch spoke for the rights owners. "The Elvis Plaintiffs are deeply protective of these iconic songs," Busch wrote, according to Rolling Stone.

Busch also made a broad charge against the company. He wrote that Anthropic built its whole business model on copyright infringement on a scale never seen before, Rolling Stone reported. Anthropic had not answered that claim.

Who filed the case

The case was brought by a unit of Authentic Brands Group, Billboard reported. That company largely controls Elvis's song catalog, trademarks and name, image and likeness rights. Other Elvis rights owners joined as co-plaintiffs.

The lawyer leading the case has a history of high-profile music cases. Billboard said Busch represented Eminem in digital-download cases in the 2000s. He also won the "Blurred Lines" verdict for Marvin Gaye's family.

Background

The music industry has sued AI companies many times. Billboard said music companies including Universal Music Group have repeatedly sued AI firms. Much of that litigation has focused on Suno, which was sued by all three major music companies.

Anthropic has faced similar claims before. Billboard said the company has been hit with similar cases across creative industries, including from music publishers.

This case stands out. Billboard calls it by far the most high-profile AI legal action filed on behalf of a single musician. Rolling Stone calls it one of the first major cases brought by an artist's estate against an AI company.

The fair use question

AI companies have a common defense. They say training is protected by copyright's fair use defense, Billboard reported. That question is still pending across dozens of lawsuits.

It is not known whether Anthropic will make that argument in this case. Its response to the suit, and the court where the case was filed, were not reported.

What it means for you

For Anthropic, the stakes are financial. The company faces potential damages of roughly $41 million if the per-song claim succeeds, Rolling Stone reported.

For artists and their heirs, the case could become a test. Rolling Stone described it as one of the first major suits by an artist's estate against an AI company.

Practical steps

• Follow the case. It is listed as ABE EPE LLC v. Anthropic, which can be used to track filings.
• Watch the fair use rulings. The legal question at the heart of this case is still pending in dozens of lawsuits, Billboard said.

What happens next

Anthropic has not yet responded publicly. A representative did not respond right away on Saturday, according to Billboard.

The broader fight over fair use will continue. Courts have not settled whether AI training counts as fair use, and the issue remains open across dozens of lawsuits.

FAQ

Who sued Anthropic? A unit of Authentic Brands Group and other Elvis rights owners filed the suit.

How much are they seeking? They seek $150,000 per infringed song, or roughly $41 million.

How many songs are involved? The suit covers 274 of Presley's songs.

Has Anthropic responded? Not at the time of reporting. A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Which songs are named? Billboard lists hits such as "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "All Shook Up", among others.

Who is the lead lawyer? Richard Busch, who won the "Blurred Lines" verdict for Marvin Gaye's family, Billboard reported.

What defense do AI companies usually use? They say training is covered by copyright's fair use defense, an issue still pending in many cases.

Has Anthropic faced similar suits? Yes. Billboard says it has faced similar cases across creative industries, including from music publishers.

Is Anthropic guilty of infringement? No court has ruled. The claims are allegations made by the plaintiffs.