Judge Grants Preliminary Approval to Anthropic Settlement
While there may yet be issues to work out as the claims process begins, authors and industry groups are applauding the deal.
In The News
In New Filing, DOJ Defends Trump's Bid to Take Over the Library of Congress, and to Fire the Register of Copyrights
After a recent appeals court decision, Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter is back at work. But in a head-spinning September 22 motion for summary judgment, DOJ lawyers insist that, one way or another, her purported firing was legal.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 19, 2025
Among the week's headlines: The Trump Administration's censorship efforts are ramping up; Delaware passes a Freedom to Read Law; why an Alabama library is still being denied state funding; and a look at how publishers are approaching AI.
In a Rebuke, Court Strikes Trump's $15 Billion Defamation Complaint
Judge Steven Merryday gave Trump lawyers 28 days to re-file the case, warning that "a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective."
Internet Archive, Music Labels Settle Copyright Suit
The settlement appears to be the last gasp of a contentious, years-long copyright battle that began with a lawsuit over book scanning in the early days of the pandemic.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 12, 2025
Among the week's headlines: the legal battle over the IMLS continues, with good news from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; Baker & Taylor has been acquired; more bad news on the state of reading in America; and the acclaimed documentary, The Librarians, is getting a wide release.
Appeals Court Blocks the Trump Administration's Firing of Top Copyright Officer
In a 2-1 decision, a federal appeals court ruled that judge Timothy Kelly erred in denying Shira Perlmutter’s bid for a preliminary injunction, and enjoined Trump administration officials from interfering with her service as Register of Copyrights, pending a further order of the court.
In a Surprise Setback, Judge Declines to Grant Preliminary Approval of Anthropic Copyright Settlement
At a September 8 hearing, judge William Alsup said the settlement agreement was “nowhere close to complete” and ordered the parties to cure several deficiencies by September 22.
Anthropic, Authors Unveil Terms of $1.5 Billion Deal to Settle Piracy Claims
If the settlement is approved, an undisclosed number of authors of some 500,000 pirated works will receive roughly $3,000 per work, making the settlement potentially the largest copyright award in history.
Despite Trump Efforts, Congress Looks to Fund the IMLS
With a budget deadline looming, Congress appears poised to fund the IMLS in fiscal year 2026, even as the Trump administration seeks to shutter the agency by executive order.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending September 5, 2025
Among the week's headlines: Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch resists the Trump administration's bid to control the institution's programs and exhibits; librarians take on AI books; the IMLS releases stats from its 2023 Public Library Survey; and a great talk with Oxford librarian Richard Ovenden.
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending August 29, 2025
Among the week's headlines: Penguin Random House voices its commitment to defending the freedom to read; voters in Alabama rebuke would-be book banners; the American Library Project visits Oregon; and Geraldine Brooks wins the Library of Congress's Prize for American Fiction.
Anthropic, Authors Strike Tentative Settlement Deal in AI Copyright Suit. But Will It Be Approved?
The deal looms as a potential milestone in the development of AI. But with tensions running hot between authors and the tech industry, lawyers say that getting a final deal approved may prove challenging.
States Move for Summary Judgment in IMLS Lawsuit
In an August 22 motion, a coalition of states are seeking to make Judge John J. McConnell’s May 6 preliminary injunction permanent. “There is no genuine issue as to any of the material facts," the filing states, adding that the Constitution "does not allow the President to shutter agencies himself.”
The Queue: Library News for the Week Ending August 22, 2025
Florida governor Ron DeSantis vows to appeal a legal decision over book bans in Florida schools; a new study charts a worrying decline in pleasure reading; Trump escalates his attacks on the Smithsonian; and IFLA holds its global conference in Kazakhstan.
Judge Denies Fired Register of Copyrights' Longshot Bid to Keep Her Job
The decision is a major blow to Shira Perlmutter's bid for a swift reinstatement and leaves the leadership of the Copyright Office in limbo.