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In a plot twist worthy of a suspense novel, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon and a cohort of esteemed writers have sounded the alarm against Meta Platforms Inc. These writers argue that Meta clandestinely used their protected works to refine its Large Language Model, LLaMA, without batting an eyelid or asking permission.

The backdrop for this latest legal drama is set in the sunny state of California, where a proposed class action has been lodged against the tech giant.

Meta's AI Targeted : Echoes from the Past

In a scenario that feels eerily like déjà vu, this isn't the writers' first dance with AI giants. Barely a week ago, Chabon and his literary allies made similar overtures against OpenAI Inc., alleging unauthorized use of their copyrighted works to hone ChatGPT, OpenAI's counterpart to LLaMA.

The Writers Behind the Lawsuit

It’s a veritable who's who of the literary world:

• Michael Chabon, celebrated for "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay"
• David Henry Hwang, the brains behind several screenplays
• Matthew Klam, a renowned fiction writer
• Journalist par excellence, Rachel Louise Snyder
• Ayelet Waldman, not just a notable novelist and essayist, but also Chabon’s life partner.

The Murky World of "Shadow Libraries"

Painting a picture darker than the night, the writers highlight the ominous world of online “shadow libraries”. These dens of duplicity host pirated books, papers, and other text troves. Tempting for AI developers due to their treasure trove of copyrighted content, these libraries operate on the fringes of legality.

In a revelation that could change the course of this story, Meta has reportedly copped to utilizing a dataset from Bibliotik, one such shadow library. The implications? A nationwide class representing countless U.S. copyright holders whose works were sneakily used to feed LLaMA.

Meta's AI Targeted : Allegations & Implications

This isn’t a simple case of ‘finders keepers’. The writers are throwing down the gauntlet, accusing Meta of direct and vicarious copyright infringement, underhanded removal of copyright info, and more. Their demands? Halt Meta in its tracks from future infringements and seek damages, the figures of which remain shrouded in mystery.

 A Growing List of Adversaries

This is but a chapter in a larger saga. Both Meta and OpenAI find themselves embroiled in similar legal skirmishes, including class actions initiated by comedian Sarah Silverman, along with authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey. OpenAI's response? A request to the California court to discard Silverman's suit, dismissing it as baseless.