3 Count: Piling On

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1: OpenAI, Microsoft Hit with New Author Copyright Lawsuit Over AI Training

First off today, Blake Brittain at Reuters reports that a group of non-fiction authors have filed a lawsuit against both OpenAI and Microsoft over what they allege is copyright infringement of their work when training and creating their respective AI systems.

The lawsuit is the latest of several, including another featuring authors such as George R.R. Martin and John Grisham, against the same companies. However, this lawsuit, which is a proposed class action, is being spearheaded by Hollywood Reporter editor Julian Sancton on behalf of various non-fiction authors.

Neither OpenAI nor Microsoft had any comment on the lawsuit. However, Sancton said that OpenAI’s training is “nothing less than the rampant theft of copyrighted works” when describing the case.

2: Manistee Mural Painted Over After Local Artist Alleges Copyright Infringement

Next up today, Kyle Kotecki at the News Advocate reports that, in Manistee, Michigan, one half of a double mural has been painted over after an artist claimed that it was a copyright infringement of a work they created a decade ago.

The two murals were commissioned by Manistee Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission and were painted side-by-side on a retaining wall. One of those murals, done by artist Katie Dilworth, featured an image of a ship coming into the town’s river channel.

However, another artist, Eileen Postma, claims that she created that painting more than a decade ago and that she had been selling prints of the painting around town for years. She also noted that the ship featured in the painting was decommissioned more than six years ago and has since been scrapped. With this proof, the city council opted to cover up the allegedly infringing painting, covering it with plain white.

3: YouTuber Accuses Casetify Of Copyright Theft, Has Receipts

Finally today, John Walker at Kotaku reports that the YouTuber Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything), along with collaborator dbrand, have filed a lawsuit against the phone case making company Casetify, claiming that they infringed his Teardown line of cases.

The Teardown line of cases are meant to simulate the phone not having a back at all and show off the internals of the phone. According to Nelson, those images of the internals are taken by him and then edited to make them more visually appealing. After that, he adds a series of inside jokes and “Easter eggs” to make references to other things on his channel or to dbrand as a company.

When Casetify launched their new line of similar cases, Nelson and others noticed the same “Easter eggs” on the new designs, as well as. That prompted him and dbrand to file the lawsuit. Casetify has responded, saying that they’ve removed the cases from sale and are investigating the matter.

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