Strictly Business Daily Variety – AI Legal Jousting in Hollywood Intensifies; ‘Saturday Night Live’ Sets Season 51 Cast Amid Comedy’s ‘Mad Dash’
Sep 9, 2025
Legal battles intensify as AI companies like Anthropic and Midjourney face copyright issues in Hollywood. The hosts discuss the evolving landscape of AI technology and its implications for creator rights. Meanwhile, 'Saturday Night Live' makes waves with its Season 51 cast changes, highlighting the influence of social media on modern comedy. Aspiring comedians now navigate a world where traditional platforms clash with innovative outlets. Exciting industry updates round out the discussion, showcasing family dynamics and new roles in the entertainment sector.
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Training Can Be Seen As Transformative
- Courts have treated AI training as a potentially transformative, fair-use activity in recent rulings.
- That view doesn't grant blanket permission and courts still weigh factors like market harm.
Anthropic Paid For Early Training Missteps
- Anthropic settled for $1.5 billion after illegally downloading books for early training of Claude.
- The judge said buying and scanning used books going forward would be lawful, but pirating was infringement.
Settlement Signals Real Financial Risk
- The $1.5 billion figure is notable because plaintiffs will actually collect it, marking a rare large recovery.
- That raises questions about other early AI trainers who used similar illicit data sources.