BMG Sues Anthropic Over AI Training Data in Landmark Copyright Case
March 18, 2026
BMG Rights Management has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI firm Anthropic in a California federal court, alleging that Anthropic used copyrighted song lyrics to train its Claude language model.
The complaint cites 493 allegedly infringed works and seeks damages that could reach up to $150,000 per work if willful infringement is proven.
The action adds to Anthropic’s ongoing legal challenges, including a separate music-publisher lawsuit and a substantial $1.5 billion settlement with authors over piracy-related training issues.
Spokespeople from the involved companies did not immediately comment on the filing.
Coverage notes broader tech implications, including discussions of AI, regulation, and potential transport infrastructure topics in related contexts.
Samsung and AMD announced a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on next-generation AI storage and memory, including HBM4 and DDR5, and to explore a Foundry partnership.
Analysts foresee tighter regulations and possible EU-like data-disclosure requirements for AI training, signaling a shift toward stricter IP enforcement in AI.
Funding programs in Europe, such as netidee, offer grants for innovative internet initiatives, with deadlines and prize details mentioned.
Anthropic’s response was not publicly detailed, but the case raises potential legal precedents affecting future AI development and copyright enforcement.
The story is framed as a pivotal moment for AI and copyright law, with potential long-term effects on licensing, compliance costs, and creator rights.
Public and industry reactions describe a divide: supporters say the lawsuit protects creators, while defenders of AI stress innovation and fair use protections for publicly available data.
The broader industry context shows ongoing tension over training data practices, with cases evolving and outcomes still pending.
Summary based on 24 sources
Get a daily email with more Tech stories
Sources

Reuters • Mar 18, 2026
BMG sues Anthropic for using Bruno Mars, Rolling Stones lyrics in AI training
Yahoo Finance • Mar 18, 2026
BMG sues Anthropic for using Bruno Mars, Rolling Stones lyrics in AI training
Economic Times • Mar 18, 2026
BMG sues Anthropic for using Bruno Mars, Rolling Stones lyrics in AI training
PYMNTS.com • Mar 18, 2026
BMG Sues Anthropic Over Alleged Use of Song Lyrics in AI Training | PYMNTS.com