Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Faces Legal Pressure in OpenAI Lawsuit
In a developing legal saga, Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, is working to avoid being deposed as part of a copyright lawsuit targeting OpenAI. Fresh court filings reveal that the Authors Guild, representing notable authors like John Grisham, George R.R. Martin, and Sylvia Day, is pressing for Amodei and his co-founder Benjamin Mann to provide testimony.
Unique Insights from Former OpenAI Employees
The Authors Guild’s legal team argues that Amodei and Mann, both of whom had key roles at OpenAI prior to establishing Anthropic, hold “unique, firsthand knowledge of information highly relevant” to the ongoing case. This lawsuit, filed in September 2023, is underway in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Despite the mounting pressure, neither the Authors Guild nor the lawyers representing Amodei and Mann have commented on the situation, and Anthropic has remained silent as well.
The Growing Legal Challenges for OpenAI
As reported, the Authors Guild’s motion to compel testimony and the corresponding subpoenas reflect the intensifying litigation against OpenAI, particularly as accusations arise suggesting that the company trained its popular AI model, ChatGPT, using copyrighted materials without permission. With discovery in this case set to conclude in April 2025, the stakes are high, especially against the backdrop of OpenAI seeking to raise around $40 billion.
Amodei and Mann initially agreed to undergo seven-hour depositions after receiving subpoenas in June 2024 but later pushed back, attempting to synchronize these depositions with another lawsuit involving various plaintiffs, including comedian Sarah Silverman and authors Michael Chabon and Paul Tremblay.
Attempts to Avoid Testimony
Recently, however, the commitment to testify seems to waver. On January 16, 2025, Amodei’s lawyers informed the Authors Guild that he “is not available for deposition,” citing his demanding schedule and relying on the so-called “apex doctrine,” which usually helps high-ranking executives avoid testifying unless absolutely necessary.
Mann has echoed these sentiments, suggesting he will only provide testimony if it can coincide with the other lawsuit and if his deposition is limited to four hours. Citing personal responsibilities—such as two young children and a family member’s serious medical diagnosis—Mann’s legal team has raised concerns and requested that the guild withdraw the deposition demand against Amodei.
In a bold move, Mann has also filed a motion to quash the subpoena related to the consolidated OpenAI lawsuit.
Conclusion
The legal landscape surrounding artificial intelligence continues to evolve, challenging companies like OpenAI to navigate copyright complexities while aiming for massive investments. As these lawsuits unfold, industry watchers will be keen to see how testimonies from former employees could shape the future of AI development.
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