Recently a significant protest took place outside the Dáil and Government buildings in Dublin, where Irish authors, screenwriters, and poets rallied against Meta’s use of their copyrighted works to train its artificial intelligence models, specifically the Llama system. So it got me thinking, again, is AI stealing copyright?
Hello and welcome back to the AI Six podcast where I teach you all things AI in just six minutes a day – taking away the overwhelm because I do the hard work.
There’s growing noise around how AI is being trained, and who pays the price. Two weeks ago, authors are protesting in Dublin, accusing Meta of using pirated books, yes, stolen words, to train its AI. In today’s episode, we’ll explore what’s actually happening, what this means for marketers and creators, and how to think about copyright in the AI age.
What’s the Issue?
Meta and other tech companies have reportedly used content from so-called “shadow libraries” – websites that host books without permission, to train large language models.
Authors argue:
- Their work was used without consent
- There was no payment, licensing, or acknowledgement
- Their intellectual property is now part of a tool that can recreate their style—without them
Why It Matters
- Ethics of AI training
The creative community wants transparency and fair compensation. Just like musicians fought for royalties with Spotify, authors are demanding the same with AI. - Legal grey zones
In many jurisdictions, scraping web content is still largely unregulated. But that’s changing. Lawsuits are already in motion, and the outcomes will reshape how AI models are trained. - Trust and backlash
For marketers, this matters. If the tools you use are built on ethically murky data, your audience—and your clients, might start asking hard questions.
My Take
As someone who believes in the power of AI and the importance of creativity, I think two things can be true at once:
- AI needs high-quality data to be useful
- Creators deserve to be asked, credited, and paid
This doesn’t mean ditching AI. It means demanding better systems, transparent, licensed, and fair.
What Marketers Can Do
- Stay informed about the AI tools you’re using, where do they get their data?
- Support platforms that use licensed datasets
- Use AI ethically: remix, don’t plagiarise
- Watch the legal space, this will affect brand guidelines, content policy, and creative strategy
Wrap-Up
The AI revolution isn’t free, it’s being built on someone’s words, work, or voice. And as marketers, we’re not just users, we’re decision-makers. If this episode got you thinking, share it. If you want to learn how to use AI without crossing ethical lines, my AI Diploma for Marketers covers exactly that. Use the code AISIX10 for 10 percent off. Until next time, keep asking the hard questions, and let’s build something better.
About the Podcast Host
Joanne Sweeney is a specialist in public-sector marketing and digital communications. She’s the author of Public Sector Marketing Pro and the creator of the Professional Diploma in AI for Public Sector Marketing. With years of experience in training, consulting, and advocating for digital transformation, Joanne provides insight and guidance for government agencies navigating the digital landscape. She is also the host of the award-winning Public Sector Marketing Show podcast.
