AI, META and legal compliance: yes, it’s possible!

At Mark & Law, we’re passionate about innovation – and therefore naturally interested in artificial intelligence. We see it as a powerful tool with fascinating possibilities, provided – as with any tool – it is used with discernment and the necessary checks and balances.

We are also committed defenders of copyright. This right is the breeding ground for culture, emotion, sharing, sometimes debate or rejection – but always the guarantor of what we cherish in our civilization.

This is why we welcome the legal action taken by the Syndicat National de l’Édition (SNE), the Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL) and the Syndicat National des Auteurs et des Compositeurs (SNAC) against Meta before the Paris Court of Justice. At issue: the massive use of copyrighted works, without the authorization of their authors and publishers, to train a generative artificial intelligence model.

To perfect its Llama language model, Meta used, until 2023, a database containing the text of almost 200,000 books, without prior authorization. Meta acknowledged this in January 2024, in the context of a similar lawsuit in the United States, brought by authors whose works appear in this database.

The point here is not to hinder AI – quite the contrary. It is in the name of its harmonious development that a framework respectful of creation is essential. Artificial intelligence holds out the promise of progress and well-being for all. But this promise can only be realized – and understood – by respecting the foundation of this protected common good: creation.

We look forward to discussing these exciting topics with you, where innovation must always be in dialogue with creation.

– Nathalie FAYETTE, Trademark Attorney and Founder of Mark & Law