Anthropic’s $1.5 Billion AI Copyright Settlement: A Guide for Kansas & Missouri Authors
What Midwest creators must understand about protecting their work and claiming compensation in the age of generative AI and AI Copyright Infringement.
Artificial intelligence has become one of the most disruptive forces affecting writers, academics, journalists, and publishers. As AI systems absorb enormous amounts of written content to “learn,” authors increasingly ask: What happens when my copyrighted book becomes training data without permission?
Most of the lawsuits against AI companies have not been very successful for many author claims. However, in a landmark shift, Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI system, has agreed to a $1.5 billion class-action settlement resolving claims that it used hundreds of thousands of copyrighted books to train its large language models without authorization. The settlement proposes paying authors about $3,000 per infringed work and may permanently change how AI companies acquire training material.
While media coverage focuses on Silicon Valley and New York publishers, the implications for Kansas and Missouri authors are direct and significant. Novelists, poets, academics, journalists, historians, and independent authors across the Midwest may qualify for compensation and must understand how this settlement affects their intellectual property rights.
Why the Anthropic Settlement Matters for Kansas & Missouri Creators
1. Midwest Books Are Used More Often Than You Think
Most generative AI (GAI) models are considered large language models (LLMs) which rely on high-quality, diverse, and deeply researched books with lots of text to train on. That means that many of the works and books from Kansas and Missouri authors are particularly attractive for training these generative AI systems. As a result, books from Kansas and Missouri authors, may have been particularly rich in the content/categories that AI developers are interested in, including:
- Literary fiction
- Poetry
- Memoir and creative nonfiction
- Journalism
- Academic books and monographs
- Regional history
Some examples of some fo the regional institutions whose works may have been included in training these GAI models include:
- University of Kansas Press
- University of Missouri Press
- UMKC’s BkMk Press
- Andrews McMeel Publishing (a major national publisher)
- Faculty authors from KU, MU, K-State, UMKC, Wichita State, Fort Hays, Central Missouri and Washburn
When AI developers scraped shadow libraries (such as Library Genesis or Z-Library), they inadvertently captured extensive catalogs from Midwestern authors, often more than other regions because academic books and digital editions are made widely available online.
2. Kansas & Missouri Are Quiet Powerhouses in U.S. Publishing
The Kansas City to St. Louis through Columbia, Missouri corridor plays a major role in American publishing. This corridor features:
- More than 40 small presses
- Multiple nationally recognized MFA programs
- Dozens of literary journals, including New Letters, The Missouri Review, and River Styx
- Hundreds of new academic and literary titles published each year
This combination of academic and creative output produces exactly the type of high-value material used to train AI models.
3. AI Training Threatens Authors’ Long-Term Income
An author’s income is rarely limited to the initial sale of a book. Creative works generate revenue through a complex ecosystem of rights and opportunities that extend far beyond publication. These income streams include:
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Backlist royalties, which is based on revenue from the sale of older, previously published books can continue to generate a steady stream of income for authors over time. Often backlist royalities provide a substantial portion of an author’s annual earnings, especially for academic authors, genre writers, and those with multi-book catalogs.
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Speaking engagements and workshops, where an author’s expertise and authorship history results in speaking invitations and associated fees.
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Teaching assignments, especially in MFA programs or universities, where publication of works can directly influence hiring and teaching opportunities.
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Licensing agreements, including foreign rights, audiobook rights, film/television options, educational licensing, and digital distribution.
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Reprint, anthology, and excerpt rights, which can accumulate over decades and remain valuable long after initial publication.
When AI systems ingest an author’s text to train generative models, those models can replicate the themes, structure, voice, and style of the author’s work. Even if the output is “transformative,” the practical effect is that AI can produce summaries, outlines, or AI-generated works that compete with the original. This can:
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Reduce demand for future editions or related titles
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Undercut licensing opportunities
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Replace paid educational uses with free AI-generated summaries
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Devalue an author’s expertise in academic or professional settings
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Impact future contract negotiations with publishers
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Erode the market for derivative works
In essence, widespread unlicensed AI ingestion risks converting a writer’s lifetime of work into uncompensated raw material for commercial AI products.
The Anthropic settlement recognizes this harm for the first time on a national scale. By allocating compensation for each improperly used work, the settlement acknowledges that unauthorized AI training can diminish the long-term economic value of an author’s catalogue—and establishes a financial pathway for authors to recover some of those losses.
What the Settlement Means for Authors & Publishers in Kansas and Missouri
✔ You May Be Eligible for Compensation
If your work appears on the settlement’s official “Works List” (estimated at 465,000–500,000 books), you may qualify for compensation.
Eligibility does not depend on:
- Your level of fame
- Your publisher’s size
- Whether you are self-published or traditionally published
✔ You Can Opt Out and Pursue Individual Claims
Authors with strong sales, valuable backlists, or commercially significant works may consider opting out of the settlement and pursuing independent legal action. This strategy depends on:
- Your catalog’s value
- Whether your work is widely distributed or assigned in courses
- Potential damages from AI copyright infringement
- Your publisher’s contractual rights
✔ A New Licensing Market Is Emerging
Going forward, AI companies will increasingly need:
- AI training licenses
- Royalty agreements
- Derivative works limitations
- Data-provenance documentation
- DMCA compliance procedures
Authors and publishers can begin treating “AI training rights” as a monetizable intellectual property asset.
Strategic Counsel for Kansas & Missouri Writers
The IPCenter can assist authors and publishers across the Midwest understand and protect their copyrights in the age of AI. Our services include:
✔ Settlement Eligibility & Claims Analysis
We evaluate whether your book appears in the dataset and what compensation you may be owed.
✔ Claim Filing & Opt-Out Strategies
We help authors decide whether to accept the settlement or pursue individual claims, including potential actions against multiple AI developers.
✔ AI Licensing & Contract Development
We draft and negotiate agreements covering:
- AI training rights
- Royalty structures
- Derivative works protections
- Transformative use limitations
✔ Copyright Protection & Enforcement
Our services include:
- Copyright registration
- DMCA takedown actions
- Digital monitoring for copyright infringement
- Litigation analysis and strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I’m a self-published author in Kansas. Am I eligible?
Yes. If your book appears in the dataset, you may qualify regardless of publishing method.
2. How do I find out if my work was used?
We can search the official Works List for you and evaluate whether you should file a claim or pursue further action.
3. If I accept the settlement, can I still sue Anthropic?
Generally no. Accepting payment usually waives future claims for the same issue.
4. Is the $3,000 payment guaranteed?
No. This is an estimate and may vary based on claim volume and publisher participation.
5. What about other AI companies like OpenAI or Meta?
You may have independent claims against other companies whose models used your work.
Conclusion: The Midwest Must Act Now
The Anthropic settlement marks a turning point in the legal landscape of artificial intelligence. For authors in Kansas and Missouri, the stakes are significant. Whether you write novels, poetry, scholarly works, journalism, or children’s books, your creative output may have been used without permission—and you may be owed compensation.
Your creative legacy deserves protection.
Contact us today, we are ready to help you evaluate your rights, file claims, and secure the protection your work deserves.