Nearly 40 members of the U.K.'s Independent Publishers Guild have written to leading AI companies about potential legal action following alleged copyright infringement. The letters have been sent on their behalf by London-based law firm Fox Williams LLP, a leading specialist in publishing and copyright law.

According to a statement from the IPG, an association set up to support indie publishers in the U.K. and Ireland, the letters "note that millions of books, journals and other literary works have been used to train and develop Large Language Models (LLMs) without the consent of publishers or licensors, representing a clear infringement of copyright."

The correspondence also includes "a request for LLM operators to cease using publishers’ copyright without express permission and provide detailed records of content that has been used to date," the statement continued. "If the undertakings are not received, the right is reserved to take further steps to protect publishers’ Intellectual Property, including legal proceedings."

Bridget Shine, chief executive of the IPG, called AI copyright infringement "a seismic threat to independent publishers and their authors and illustrators, and these warning letters show their determination to respond collectively."

Shine called the letters "just the first step in what could be a long and arduous battle to secure proper compensation for infringement and robust protection for the future. Independent publishers know there is great strength in numbers, and we’re pleased to be able to coordinate this demonstration of serious concern and intent."

Running point for the IPG is Simon Bennett, partner at Fox Williams and head of its intellectual property, commerce and technology, and international teams. Bennett is currently involved in advising publishers on copyright infringement by LLMs through their use of AI on their copyright work. He called AI companies' approach to publishing "an existential threat to the independent publishing industry, and a stand needs to be taken to protect the copyright of millions of works."

A version of this story first appeared in the U.K. newsletter BookBrunch.