Class actions are one of the most powerful tools available to individual creators whose work has been stolen at scale. This guide explains how they work and how you can participate.
A class action is a lawsuit where one or more individuals file a case on behalf of a larger group of people ("the class") who have similar claims. Instead of hundreds or thousands of individual lawsuits — each expensive, slow, and duplicative — one case handles the claims for everyone.
If an AI company used your work without permission, your individual claim might be worth less than the cost of filing a lawsuit. But when thousands of creators join together, the case becomes viable. Class actions level the playing field between individual creators and well-funded companies.
Several major class actions have been filed against AI companies for using creators' work without permission. These cover visual artists, authors, photographers, musicians, and coders. Check our Class Actions page for current opportunities to join.
If the class action succeeds, compensation may include statutory damages (if registered), actual damages, a share of the defendant's profits, or a settlement payment. The amount varies by case and by the size of the class.
In most class actions, class counsel represents the entire class. You don't need your own lawyer to participate. However, if you want to pursue additional claims beyond what the class action covers — or if you want to opt out and file your own lawsuit — you should consult an attorney.
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