Judge Approves Largest-Ever Copyright Payout in AI Case: $1.5 Billion

A judge approved a $1.5 billion settlement for Anthropic's use of copyrighted work without permission. The July 20, 2026 ruling covers about 482,000 books and other works. Nearly 120,000 writers and publishers joined. One lawyer called it the largest copyright payout ever. It is the first big outcome among many lawsuits over artificial intelligence copying creative work.