January 15, 2026
Publishers Move to Intervene in Class Action Suit Against Google for Generative AI Product “Gemini”
Direct Participation Would Support Individual Plaintiffs and Bolster Legal Case
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) announced today that two of its member companies, Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group, have moved to intervene as class representatives for publishers in the case In Re Google Generative AI Copyright Litigation, a consolidated class action suit first filed in 2023 by a group of illustrators and writers.
The pending suit, which alleges willful copyright infringement claims against Google for copying millions of books to build and train its commercial, generative AI product “Gemini,” is currently before Judge Eumi K. Lee in the United States District Court, Northern District of California.
Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group seek to represent all publishers whose rights have similarly been infringed by Google. They would provide a level of expertise and evidence that is of utmost importance in the continuing fight to hold AI companies accountable under the Copyright Act. The publishers’ complaint identifies ten representative works that Google copied to build and train Gemini without permission, including Principles of Economics by M. Gregory Mankiw, Innocent by Scott Turow, and The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin.
The publishers have moved to intervene now given recent efforts by the individual plaintiffs to certify a class that includes publishers as copyright owners of many works in suit, and Google’s objection to that effort on various grounds, including purported intra-class complexities. Direct participation by publishers would help address these and other issues so that the case can move forward, further underscoring that publishers are united with authors in this litigation.
Statement from Maria A. Pallante, AAP President and CEO:
“We thank Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group for their leadership today, as the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for the legal rights, remedies, and livelihoods of authors and publishers. It is no secret that Google and other tech companies have copied books with impunity to fuel their large language AI products. Yet they continue to assert sweeping arguments that would exempt them entirely from the basic rules of permission and accountability that have governed content-intensive technology markets for decades.
“Through today’s action, AAP and its members aim to support the creators suing Google. We believe our participation will bolster the case, especially because publishers are uniquely positioned to address many of the legal, factual, and evidentiary questions before the Court.
“It is essential to remember that the millions of works at issue in this lawsuit did not spring out of thin air but were conceived, created, developed, perfected, and financed by a creative sector that is dedicated to public progress. From rich works of fiction and nonfiction to high-quality learning materials, we take seriously our mission to inform, inspire, entertain, and educate people of all ages every day, through a variety of formats and delivery models.
“It is understandable that technology companies may want or need creative works to build safe, useful, and compelling AI systems, but this realization should point to a licensing conversation, not a rationalization. Let’s move past these early, free-for-all days of AI development, and get back to the symbiotic partnerships that have always been a hallmark of copyright law.”
About Cengage Group
Cengage Group is a global edtech company with over 100 years of experience supporting learners. Their four operating units—Higher Education, School, Work and English Language Learning—serve millions of students from middle school to graduate school and workforce skills training in over 125 countries.
Cengage empowers student choice through trusted content, AI-driven insights, and scalable digital platforms that connect education to employment, ensuring learners gain career-ready skills and achieve tangible outcomes.
About Hachette Book Group
Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group; Grand Central Publishing Group; Hachette Audio; Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Orbit; Workman Publishing; and Running Press Group. HBG also provides custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to several publishing companies.
HBG’s books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Prize, James Beard Award, and other major honors.
About the Association of American Publishers
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) represents the U.S. publishing industry on matters of law and policy, with a particular focus on the copyright, technology, and freedom of expression issues that make publishing possible. Founded in 1970, AAP regularly organizes and supports litigation that is of existential importance to the greater creative community. AAP’s members include large, small, and specialized publishing houses serving both local and global markets. Together, they inform and inspire the public, one work of authorship at a time.
Read Motion here.
Read Complaint here.