Elvis song-rights owners accuse Anthropic of infringement; Anthropic disputes the claims
Owners of rights in Elvis-associated compositions accuse Anthropic of copying and using 274 works without permission. Anthropic disputes the claims. The suit also alleges infringing outputs, circumvention of access controls and removal of copyright information.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
ABG EPE IP LLC and other rights owners sued Anthropic over alleged copying involving 274 musical compositions and Claude outputs. Anthropic disputes the claims and says it will defend the case. The complaint raises allegations about retained copies, training and outputs.
Read the full background
The October 23 complaint (opens in a new tab) identifies seven plaintiffs and alleges infringement involving 274 compositions. It distinguishes retained copies, model training and allegedly infringing outputs, alongside claims about protection measures and copyright information.
An Anthropic representative told Pitchfork (opens in a new tab) that the company disagrees and will defend the case. That brief response gives no detailed defense to the individual allegations.
The complaint states the plaintiffs' claims. The filing is not a judicial finding that Anthropic infringed every listed work, and fair-use arguments in other AI cases do not decide this lawsuit.
Timeline
1 timeline entry on this page. Dates: October 23, 2026
October 2026
Song-rights plaintiffs file copyright complaint against Anthropic
Claim
ABG EPE IP LLC and six other plaintiffs file case 5:26-cv-12473 in the Northern District of California.
[01]ABG EPE IP LLC et al. v. Anthropic: Complaint for Direct Copyright Infringement, Circumvention of Protection Measures, and Removal or Alteration of CMI
The plaintiffs allege infringement involving 274 compositions and Claude outputs. These are allegations in a new complaint. This docket-stamped copy is hosted outside the court website.
ABG EPE IP LLC et al. v. Anthropic: Complaint for Direct Copyright Infringement, Circumvention of Protection Measures, and Removal or Alteration of CMINo. 5:26-cv-12473; complaint paragraphs 1-4 and claims for relief
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 responses. Newest first.
AnthropicAnthropic, through a company representativeDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Pitchfork asks Anthropic about the newly filed lawsuit.
"We disagree with the claims and intend to defend this case fully."
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Elvis song-rights owners accuse Anthropic of infringement; Anthropic disputes the claims
Full statement and sources
Anthropic tells Pitchfork that it disagrees with the claims and intends to defend the case.
After the statement
The response supplies no detailed argument about the particular compositions or uses.
Elvis Presley Catalog Owners Sue AI Company Anthropic for Copyright InfringementAnthropic representative's response to PitchforkWhy this label?
The reference is alleged infringement involving the plaintiffs' compositions. Anthropic rejects the legal claims without specifying which copying, training or output allegations it denies.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
ABG EPE IP LLCPlaintiff and music-rights ownerDirectly involved Before this statement
The complaint identifies the plaintiffs and the rights they claim in the compositions.
"Action: Filed a complaint against Anthropic alleging copyright infringement involving 274 compositions and Claude outputs."
CondemnedCase context: Elvis song-rights owners accuse Anthropic of infringement; Anthropic disputes the claims
Full statement and sources
ABG EPE IP LLC joins six other plaintiffs in seeking relief for alleged copying and use of compositions they own or control.
After the statement
Its allegations remain contested, including which uses occurred and whether they infringed protected rights.
ABG EPE IP LLC et al. v. Anthropic: Complaint for Direct Copyright Infringement, Circumvention of Protection Measures, and Removal or Alteration of CMINo. 5:26-cv-12473; complaint paragraphs 1-4 and claims for reliefWhy this label?
The reference is Anthropic's alleged copying and use of the plaintiffs' works. Filing this complaint expressly challenges that conduct.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(2)
Original text
ABG EPE IP LLC et al. v. Anthropic: Complaint for Direct Copyright Infringement, Circumvention of Protection Measures, and Removal or Alteration of CMI
Relevant passage: No. 5:26-cv-12473; complaint paragraphs 1-4 and claims for relief
About this source
The plaintiffs allege infringement involving 274 compositions and Claude outputs. These are allegations in a new complaint. This docket-stamped copy is hosted outside the court website.
- Author
- Counsel for the plaintiffs
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Elvis Presley Catalog Owners Sue AI Company Anthropic for Copyright Infringement
Relevant passage: Anthropic representative's response to Pitchfork
About this source
Pitchfork obtained Anthropic's direct response disputing the claims.
- Author
- Hattie Lindert
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Elvis song-rights owners accuse Anthropic of infringement; Anthropic disputes the claims
- First published
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The Dispute Index. "Elvis song-rights owners accuse Anthropic of infringement; Anthropic disputes the claims". First published: 2026-10-26. Last updated: 2026-10-26. https://disputeindex.com/cases/elvis-song-owners-anthropic-copyright-lawsuit