Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Seeks to Evade Deposition in High-Stakes OpenAI Copyright Lawsuit
In the ongoing legal battle surrounding copyright allegations against OpenAI, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is attempting to evade being deposed. Recent court filings reveal that the Authors Guild, representing a notable group of authors, is pushing back against this effort, seeking to compel testimony from Amodei and his co-founder, Benjamin Mann.
Background of the Case
The Authors Guild is currently representing well-known authors such as John Grisham, George R.R. Martin, and Sylvia Day in a lawsuit against OpenAI. This lawsuit was filed in September 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The guild’s lawyers argue that Amodei and Mann, both former employees of OpenAI, have “unique, firsthand knowledge” crucial to the case.
Subpoenas Issued
- The Authors Guild sent subpoenas to Amodei and Mann in early 2024.
- These subpoenas request testimony and communications from their previous work at OpenAI.
Despite the subpoenas, neither the lawyers for the Authors Guild nor those representing Amodei and Mann have commented on the situation. Additionally, Anthropic has remained silent on the matter.
Legal Developments
The motion to compel testimony and the subpoenas have brought attention to the numerous copyright lawsuits alleging that OpenAI’s ChatGPT was trained on unauthorized material. Discovery for the Authors Guild case is set to conclude in April 2025.
Coordination of Depositions
Amodei and Mann had initially agreed in June 2024 to participate in seven-hour depositions following the subpoenas. They prepared a variety of communications, including text messages and WhatsApp conversations, as part of the discovery process. However, their legal representatives have since sought to delay the depositions, aiming to synchronize them with another lawsuit against OpenAI involving authors Sarah Silverman, Michael Chabon, and Paul Tremblay.
Current Status of Depositions
As of January 16, 2025, Amodei’s lawyers informed the Authors Guild that he was “not available for deposition.” They cited the apex doctrine, which argues that high-ranking executives should not be deposed unless absolutely necessary due to their demanding schedules.
Mann’s Position
Mann is also seeking to limit his deposition to four hours and prefers to coordinate it with the consolidated lawsuit. His legal team has mentioned personal circumstances, including two young children and a family member with serious health concerns, as reasons for his limited availability. Moreover, Mann has filed a motion to quash the subpoena related to the consolidated OpenAI case.
For more information on copyright issues in the tech industry, you can visit the Authors Guild’s official website. Additionally, keep an eye on OpenAI’s updates as this case continues to unfold.