Monday 19 January 2026
Two publishers, Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group, members of IFRRO member organisation the Association of American Publishers (AAP), have filed a motion to intervene as publisher class representatives in In Re Google Generative AI Copyright Litigation. The case, initiated in 2023, concerns claims that Google relied on copyrighted books without permission in the development of its generative AI systems, including Gemini.
The proceedings are pending before the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Through their proposed intervention, the two publishers seek to act on behalf of other publishers whose works are similarly affected and to contribute publisher-specific perspectives on copyright ownership, licensing arrangements, and the use of books in AI training. Their submissions point to ten specific works that were allegedly used without authorisation.
The motion follows recent developments relating to class certification and questions about how publishers’ rights are addressed within the broader creator claims. Direct involvement by publishers is intended to clarify these issues, support the existing claimants, and reinforce the case by ensuring that publishers’ interests are clearly and independently represented. Further details are available in the AAP’s original article.