Concord Music Group, Inc. et al. v. Anthropic PBC, Dario Amodei and Benjamin Mann, No. 5:26-cv-00880 (N.D. Cal.) (Concord II)

Summary

The same music publishers filed a second suit against Anthropic on January 28, 2026, also naming CEO Dario Amodei and co-founder Benjamin Mann. They allege that Anthropic downloaded pirated books containing their compositions from shadow libraries via BitTorrent, distributing copies in the process, and trained Claude models on them; the complaint lists more than 20,000 works and seeks statutory damages that the publishers put at over $3 billion. It also alleges that newer Claude models reproduce lyrics and asserts DMCA copyright-management-information claims. The publishers later withdrew the contributory infringement claim against Anthropic and stipulated to dismiss the vicarious infringement count. The claims are allegations.

Key dates

1. January 28, 2026Filed
2. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
3. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. Concord Music Group, Inc., Universal Music Group, and ABKCO Music, Inc. filed a complaint on Wednesday for copyright and Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) violations against Anthropic PBC, Dario Amodei, and Benjamin Mann

   Supports: Parties, claims

   Music Publishers File New Piracy Suit Against Anthropic Alleging Mass Torrenting of Copyrighted Works IPWatchdog Reporting or analysis

2. are seeking more than $3 billion in potential statutory damages over alleged infringement of more than 20,000 songs.

   Supports: Damages sought, number of works

   UMG sues Anthropic for $3bn over 'brazen' copyright infringement of 20,000+ songs Music Business Worldwide Reporting or analysis

3. WHEREAS, on January 28, 2026, Publishers filed a Complaint in this action against

   Supports: Filing date, defendants; claim withdrawals

   Stipulation and [Proposed] Order Regarding Dismissal of Vicarious Infringement Claim (Count IV), Dkt. 90, No. 5:26-cv-00880-EKL-SVK U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal. (via RECAP) Primary source

4. The Clerk of the Court shall maintain Dkts. 97-3 and 97-4 under seal until further order of

   Supports: Case active (filed 07/16/26)

   Order Granting Defendant's Administrative Motion to File Under Seal, Dkt. 100, No. 26-cv-00880-EKL (SVK) U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal. (via RECAP) Primary source