Tech · October 25, 2026
Anthropic sued for allegedly using 274 Elvis Presley songs to train AI models
The owners of Elvis Presley’s music catalog, including Authentic Brands Group and various trusts, have filed a lawsuit against AI developer Anthropic for alleged copyright infringement. The plaintiffs claim Anthropic used 274 of Presley's songs without permission to train its Claude AI models. The lawsuit, filed in late October 2026, alleges that Anthropic bypassed digital rights management protections and that the AI models generate infringing versions of iconic lyrics. This case is noted as one of the first major legal challenges brought directly by an artist’s estate against an AI firm, with the plaintiffs seeking millions in damages.
Read the original coverage
- The GuardianMainstream
Anthropic sued for allegedly using 274 Elvis Presley songs to train AI models
Read at The Guardian ↗ - NBC NewsMainstream
Elvis Presley’s rights holders sue Anthropic, saying it trained AI on his music
Read at NBC News ↗ - EngadgetTrade
Elvis Presley
Read at Engadget ↗
Reported by multiple outlets
- Authentic Brands Group and other stakeholders are suing Anthropic for copyright infringement.
- The lawsuit alleges that Anthropic used 274 Elvis Presley songs to train its AI models without permission.
- The plaintiffs claim the infringement involves hits such as 'Can’t Help Falling in Love' and 'Don’t Be Cruel.'
- Richard Busch is the lead attorney for the plaintiffs.
Reported by only some outlets
- Engadget reports the plaintiffs are seeking $41 million in compensation.
- Engadget reports the lawsuit was filed on October 23rd, while The Guardian and NBC News report it was filed on Friday (October 23, 2026).
- The Guardian reports Billboard was the first to report the lawsuit, while Engadget attributes the report to The New York Times.
- NBC News mentions the lawsuit targets the development of Anthropic’s Claude models specifically.
- Engadget notes the lawsuit accuses Anthropic of bypassing DRM protections and altering copyright management information.
Industry-friendly coverage frames it as…
Most coverage focuses on the precedent this case could set for the AI sector and the financial liability AI developers face when using legacy media catalogs.
Skeptical / consumer coverage frames it as…
The coverage highlights allegations of systematic copyright infringement, the bypassing of digital protections, and the unauthorized reproduction of creative works by AI models.
Numbers that differ
- Number of songs involved: The Guardian and NBC News report 274. Engadget reports 274 in the lead but 247 in a later paragraph.
About these outlets
CadNews does not determine absolute truth or endorse political viewpoints. It compares publicly available reporting, identifies shared facts, highlights framing differences, and flags uncertainty.