Reddit Files Lawsuit Against AI Startup Anthropic for Breach of Contract and Unfair Competition

Reddit has initiated legal action against the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, alleging a breach of contract and accusing the company of engaging in unfair business practices. This lawsuit, which was filed on Wednesday in San Francisco, claims that Anthropic has been training its AI models using the personal data of Reddit users without their consent. Reddit asserts that this unauthorized commercial use of its content has caused harm to the platform.

In its complaint, Reddit criticized Anthropic, describing it as a “late-blooming” AI company that presents itself as a guardian of the AI industry but is, in fact, anything but. The filing contends that Anthropic disregards Reddit’s rules and user privacy, claiming the company believes it can use content freely and without repercussions. An Anthropic spokesperson responded, stating that the firm disagrees with Reddit’s allegations and intends to defend itself vigorously.

Since the emergence of generative AI technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022, Reddit has positioned itself as a key player in the ongoing discourse surrounding AI. Its platform, rich with user-generated content on a vast array of topics, has been a significant resource for training large AI models, including Anthropic’s Claude. Reddit recently formed a partnership with OpenAI to authorize training on its content, alongside similar agreements with Google.

In the lawsuit, Reddit contrasts Anthropic’s approach with that of other prominent AI firms, highlighting that companies like OpenAI and Google are permitted to use Reddit content only after adhering to its licensing terms. Furthermore, the legal filing emphasizes that Reddit has clearly defined usage rules within its user agreement, aiming to protect its user base from unauthorized commercial exploitation. The company seeks damages and compliance from Anthropic and has requested a jury trial to address these grievances.