3 Count: Textbook Case

Textbook author Michael Sullivan has filed a class action lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company used his textbooks without permission to train its AI systems, joining over 100 other lawsuits against AI companies. The suit argues that textbook authors face unique market dilution risks because textbooks are typically licensed to schools rather than sold directly to students, and that while topics may not be copyrightable, the order, selection, and wording are. In other copyright news, Taylor Sheridan, creator of Yellowstone, faces a lawsuit from author Lauren J. Salkin alleging he stole her idea, and a judge denied Bad Bunny's request to recoup $465K in legal fees from a failed copyright suit filed by Empawa Africa.

3 Count: Textbook Case Have any suggestions for the 3 Count? Let me know via Bluesky, Mastodon or LinkedIn. 1: U.S. Textbook Authors Sue OpenAI for Copyright Infringement https://publishingperspectives.com/2026/08/u-s-textbook-authors-sue-openai-for-copyright-infringement/ First off today, Andrew Albanese at Publishing Perspectives reports that textbook author Michael Sullivan has filed a class action lawsuit against OpenAI for alleging for using textbooks to train its various AI systems. Though the lawsuit makes many of the same claims as other author lawsuits against AI companies, it argues that the market dilution risks textbook authors face are unique to the textbook industry. This is because textbooks are usually licensed to schools themselves, not sold directly to students. The lawsuit further argues that, though the topics of textbooks may not be protected by copyright, the order, selection and specific wording of the authors is. The case joins over 100 other lawsuits filed against AI companies. 2: Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan Accused of Stealing Writer’s Idea in Copyright Lawsuit https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/taylor-sheridan-yellowstone-lawsuit-copyright-b3037736.html Next up today, Tom Murray at The Independent reports that Taylor Sheridan, the creator of the TV series Yellowstone , has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit alleging that he stole the idea for the show from author Lauren J. Salkin. Salkin filed the lawsuit against Sheridan, Paramount Global, 101 Studios and others involved in the production of the show. Salkin alleges that they originally pitched the show to Sheridan in 2016, noting similarities between the show and her original proposal. According to the lawsuit, Salkin pitched a similar show in 2016 and received a rejection letter in February 2017. However, Yellowstone would be green lit shortly after and the first episode aired in June 2018. Salkin is seeking both damages and injunctive relief. 3: Judge Rules Bad Bunny Won’t Recoup $465K Legal Fees From Failed Copyright Suit https://www.complex.com/music/a/backwoodsaltar/bad-bunny-copyright-lawsuit-legal-fees-empawa-africa Finally today, Joe Price at Complex reports that a judge has denied Bad Bunny’s request to recoup $465K in legal fees he claims to have spent defending himself in a copyright infringement lawsuit tied to an allegedly uncleared sample. The lawsuit was filed by Empawa Africa, who allege that Bad Bunny used an uncleared sample on his 2022 album, Un Verano Sin Ti. Bad Bunny’s team argued that he had obtained a license to use the sample from another rights holder. This led to Empawa Africa abandoning the lawsuit. Bad Bunny filed seeking to recoup $465K in legal fees he claims to have spent defending himself in the case. However, the judge has denied that, saying that the lawsuit was “objectively reasonable” and that awarding the fees would “send the wrong message.” The 3 Count Logo was created by Justin Goff and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Want to Reuse or Republish this Content? If you want to feature this article in your site, classroom or elsewhere, just let us know We usually grant permission within 24 hours.