Issue 13
Viewpoint
lawsuit · Hungary
EU court adviser: Gemini-type chatbots may infringe press publishers' rights
Advocate General Maciej Szpunar published an opinion on Tuesday in Like Company v Google (C-250/25) before the Court of Justice of the EU. He said that, under certain conditions, it may be unlawful for an AI chatbot to retrieve and reuse online press articles in real time.
Who is affected and how
- lawyer
- For publisher clients, claims based on infringement of the related right should be prepared, following the EU court's ruling.
- corporate lawyer
- Chatbot and AI search providers should review how they retrieve and display press content in real time.
lawsuit · United States
Hollywood, creators' groups and publishers back New York Times in OpenAI case
More than 50 amicus curiae briefs have been filed in the consolidated New York Times copyright case against OpenAI and Microsoft. They include WME, Cate Blanchett and CAA, Irving Azoff's Music…
lawyerCopyright clients should prepare for the arguments in the amicus briefs, which outline the counter-arguments to fair use.corporate lawyerAI developers and users should review the legal basis of their training data while the case remains undecided.lawsuit · United StatesParents sue Google, alleging school Chromebook AI helped plan teen's suicide attempt
The parents of a 13-year-old girl have sued Google, alleging that AI available on a school Chromebook contributed to their child's suicide plan. Reports say tech companies face a growing number of…
corporate lawyerEducation AI providers should review product liability and negligence risk, as well as protection settings for minors.compliance specialistFor AI features involving children, content filtering and escalation processes need to be documented.citizenBlocking a chatbot app does not necessarily rule out AI built into the device, so parental settings should be checked separately.lawsuit · United StatesEminem's publisher and the Elvis estate both sue AI music platform Suno
Eight Mile Style, Eminem's publisher, is seeking $41 million from Suno, alleging the system was trained on works used without permission. Elvis Presley Enterprises has also filed a copyright lawsuit…
lawyerFor music copyright clients, the voice-imitation issue should be included in the claim alongside the damages demand.corporate lawyerMusic AI providers need to review the legal basis of their training datasets and their licensing agreements.profession · AsiaOver 80% of South Korean judges have encountered AI-fabricated citations, survey finds
A survey found that just over 80% of South Korean judges handling civil, family and administrative cases have already encountered false, AI-generated precedent citations. Reports say at least one…
lawyerCitations in every AI-assisted filing must be verified before submission.Hungary
complianceHungarian professional publications: shadow AI, deepfakes and data protection risks at companiescompliance specialistPolicies and technical restrictions are needed for AI use on private devices and without authorization.corporate lawyerEmployers must settle the data protection, automated decision-making and monitoring aspects of AI use in a written policy.complianceHungarian legal articles: company executives are personally liable for AI decisionscorporate lawyerManaging directors' AI liability risk should be reduced with documented controls and an internal policy.compliance specialistThe deployer obligations under the AI Regulation (Article 26) should be covered by an oversight regime tied to the instructions for use.lawyerClients should be advised to adopt contract and liability clauses tailored to AI agents.perHungarian court makes new EU referral on press publications and LLM chatbotslawyerThe pending case may offer guidance for filings in press copyright and chatbot disputes.professionAI creates a new profession that could open law firms to people without law degreeslawyerFirms need to assess which non-lawyer roles to introduce in AI workflows.toolAI tool dontes.app searches Hungarian court decisionslawyerA meaning-based search engine finds relevant decisions faster in legal research, but the results must be verified.regulationHungarian tech-regulation expert: EU AI Act is over-regulatory but here to staycompliance specialistBecause of the skills shortage, it is worth starting to build compliance capacity early.corporate lawyerCompanies should plan for a lasting legal framework, not for the act being softened.professionArsboni: the future of the billable hour is in question in the AI eralawyerFirms should consider fixed-fee or value-based offers for tasks that can be automated.corporate lawyerClients should ask for AI savings to be shared in fee negotiations.professionExpert conference: AI could support the use of minority languages in courts
More key stories of the week
lawsuit · United States
Man sues OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT helped his wife plan to poison him
James Gates of Charlotte, North Carolina, has sued OpenAI and Sam Altman, alleging his wife used ChatGPT to plan his poisoning. The complaint names GPT-4o, a model since retired, and seeks damages.
corporate lawyerProduct liability and negligence risk for chatbot providers may extend to use that is expressly aimed at harming a third party.compliance specialistFirms should document how risky requests are handled and what safety limits apply to retired models.lawyerThe case could serve as a template for liability claims over AI-assisted acts against third parties.case · United StatesThree men charged over $129 million fraud using AI impersonation of CEOs and lawyers
The US Department of Justice says three foreign nationals used artificial intelligence to imitate the faces and voices of CEOs and lawyers, defrauding victims of $129 million. They called finance…
compliance specialistDual-channel confirmation should be introduced for money transfers, because voice and video alone no longer authenticate.corporate lawyerBanking and corporate payment processes should record identification and approval steps and address liability for losses.lawyerFraudsters also impersonate law firms, so firms should agree communication and payment verification procedures with clients in advance.case · United StatesNew US sanctions over fake AI-generated citations as public database passes 2,200 cases
The Sixth Circuit sanctioned two lawyers for failing to answer the court's questions on who wrote a brief, whether AI was used and how the citations were checked. Judge Cannon also sanctioned a…
lawyerLawyers must be able to answer precisely, when the court asks, what AI was used in a filing and how citations were checked.profession · United StatesNew York State Bar: lawyers cannot bill for time saved by AI
Under guidance from the New York State Bar Association, lawyers may not bill clients for time saved through AI, nor for the time spent learning the tool. The guidance also covers confidentiality and…
lawyerIn hourly billing, time saved by AI must not be charged, and the client must be able to see the arrangement in advance.corporate lawyerOutside firms' invoices are worth checking for transparency on AI use and for how the savings are shared.regulation · European UnionEU Digital Omnibus changes AI Act deadlines and heads for trilogue
The EU Digital Omnibus changes the AI Act timeline (Regulation (EU) 2026/1744), and open questions are heading to trilogue. Italy's Decree 179/2026 designates AgID and ACN as supervisory authorities.
compliance specialistCompliance plans must be redrawn around the changed deadlines, but obligations already in force must not slip.corporate lawyerThe risk classification of AI systems and the commitments in vendor contracts should be reviewed against the amended timing.lawyerClients should be given a deadline calendar that reflects member-state authority designations.lawsuit · United StatesNew York Times and three other US papers sue Brave over AI scraping and paywall bypass
The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune and two other newspapers have sued browser developer Brave over its AI-based search. The complaint alleges the company scrapes content and bypasses paywalls.
corporate lawyerFor products offering AI search or summaries, companies should check how the system gains access to paywalled content.compliance specialistThe legal risk of AI features that retrieve third-party content needs to be assessed.regulation · United StatesDemocrats promise AI regulation as they prepare to take control of US Congress
Democrats will take control of Congress in January after the midterm elections and are preparing bills to regulate AI more strictly. Representative Yassamin Ansari is calling for a pause on advanced…
compliance specialistScenarios should be prepared for the federal regulatory shift, including conflicts between state and federal rules.corporate lawyerAn amendment clause is advisable in AI vendor contracts to manage changing regulatory risk.professionAI-native law firm Athena raises $2.5M pre-seed from a16z
Former Legora and Big Law lawyers have launched Athena, a hybrid AI-based law firm, which closed a $2.5 million pre-seed round backed by a16z. The company aims to renew the revenue model of legal AI.
lawyerA change in service and fee models could pose competition for smaller firms that work with AI.corporate lawyerIn-house legal departments should assess the fee proposals of AI-based external providers.ruling · AsiaDelhi High Court orders removal of deepfake videos and protects personality rights
The Delhi High Court ordered the removal of AAP's deepfake videos, holding that political satire cannot attack dignity. It also protected actor Kriti Sanon's personality rights against AI deepfakes…
lawyerCourt practice may provide a new basis for personality-rights and deepfake-removal applications.tool · globalHarvey makes acquisition, announces partnership and launches new features for law firms
Harvey has acquired Aida, its fifth acquisition this year, and on 4 November announced a partnership with Jus Mundi on an arbitration agent integrated into its Assistant. Spencer West has begun a…
lawyerLitigation and arbitration AI features may speed up research and drafting, but evaluating the output remains the lawyer's responsibility.corporate lawyerWhen choosing a vendor, data-handling and confidentiality terms should be compared.profession · globalLegal AI startup Harvey, valued at $15.5 billion, holds early IPO talks
Legal AI startup Harvey has held early talks about going public, with Latham & Watkins involved. The company is reportedly valued at $15.5 billion.
lawyerThe market position of the vendor behind large firms' AI tools may affect licensing deals.corporate lawyerVendor-dependence risk with providers such as Harvey should be addressed in contracts.case · United KingdomUK courts and Law Society urge checks on AI use in the legal profession
The Guardian reports that a CPS prosecutor cited a non-existent case to a court after an AI search. In June 2025 the High Court called on the Bar Council and the Law Society to act over AI…
lawyerResults of AI-assisted research must be verified, because a false citation carries professional liability.citizenLegal advice obtained from AI can be inaccurate, outdated or invented, so it must be checked.In brief
regulationPennsylvania may require court filers to certify AI-generated citations were verifiedlawyerCitation checks should be documented before filing, as a certification requirement may follow.lawCriminal-law responses to deepfake abuse: Australia's first conviction, Queensland proposal, Irish billlawyerWhen representing victims, the gravity of technology-based sexual violence is worth using as an argument.citizenNew criminal-law tools are being prepared against non-consensual deepfakes.regulationUK regulators say existing laws apply to AI agentscompliance specialistThe operation of AI agents must be built into competition, consumer protection and data protection controls.corporate lawyerLiability for harm caused by an agent can be allocated by contract, but regulatory responsibility stays with the company.rulingUS federal appeals court: law firm's AI use does not justify cutting legal feeslawyerThe winning party can claim its full legal costs even when AI support was used.corporate lawyerWhen submitting a fee claim, be prepared in advance for arguments about savings.lawNew Jersey and New York City consider product liability rules for AI chatbotscorporate lawyerChatbot providers' product liability exposure and insurance coverage should be reviewed.lawyerThe proposed rules could provide a new basis for consumer claims.lawPennsylvania enacts law against deceptive AI advertising, with disclosure requirementscompliance specialistDisclosure of AI use in advertisements should be built into the campaign approval process.corporate lawyerIn advertising contracts for the Pennsylvania market, it is worth fixing who is responsible for disclosure.lawCalifornia enacts new AI laws on workplace practicescompliance specialistAI tools affecting California employees (e.g. recruitment, evaluation) must be reviewed against the new rules.corporate lawyerEmployment policies and tool-vendor contracts need to be updated.data protectionnoyb files five complaints against Scale AI over surveillance of European AI trainerscompliance specialistWhen reviewing AI data annotators and trainers, employee data processing under the GDPR must also be reassessed.corporate lawyerContracts with external data-labelling providers should fix responsibility for data processing and the limits of surveillance.perState attorneys general target AI providers: West Virginia sues Snapcorporate lawyerPlatforms that integrate AI should expect state action that cites the model vendor's published limitations.compliance specialistKnowing the limitations stated in vendor documentation is part of risk management.perRoss Intelligence seeks new hearing in copyright case against Thomson Reuterscorporate lawyerLegal AI vendors still need to watch the lawfulness of their training data.perMeta, Google and TikTok sue California over law protecting children from addictive algorithmscorporate lawyerPlatforms must shape the legal compliance of algorithmic recommender systems aimed at minors according to the outcome of the case.compliance specialistPreparation for California's child-protection rules should not be postponed until the case ends.rulingUS federal judge dismisses music publishers' direct copyright claim against Dario AmodeilawyerFor direct copyright claims against executives, preparation is needed to prove personal involvement.corporate lawyerExecutives' personal exposure does not increase here, but the company's liability remains open.perSuno asks court to dismiss Jason Isbell's lawsuit, saying nothing unlawful occurredlawyerLawyers should be ready for a free-speech defence when drafting voice-imitation and identity-based claims.complianceFive things German firms believe about the AI Act, and what the text sayscompliance specialistInternal assumptions about the AI Act should be checked against the legal text before a compliance programme is built.corporate lawyerIn management briefings, misconceptions should be rebutted with citations to the text.professionA&O Shearman commits $1.1bn lawyer-led investment to its AI programmelawyerLarge firms' AI investment is reshaping the traditional division of legal work and entry-level work.corporate lawyerSuppliers' AI capabilities may become a procurement criterion for external advisers.regulationParts of the EU AI Act to apply in Northern Ireland, but only to AI-integrated goodscompliance specialistManufacturers shipping to Northern Ireland must meet EU rules for products with embedded AI.corporate lawyerBecause products and pure software are treated differently, the product portfolio must be reviewed separately.data protectionHamburg data protection authority drafts letters with an OpenAI model as complaints rise 62%compliance specialistAlongside AI support for official correspondence, the rise in complaints must also be factored in.corporate lawyerResponses to regulatory inquiries must be prepared for a faster regulatory pace.perAnthropic copyright settlement could benefit Herald Press authorsperAlphabet shareholder sues executives over copyright claims in Google AI trainingcorporate lawyerExecutives' liability and shareholder (derivative) exposure should also be assessed in light of the copyright risk.compliance specialistThe legal risk of AI training should be documented at board level.caseTwo Brazilian lawyers caught cheating, using a secret code to try to influence AIlawyerAttempting to manipulate AI systems can carry disciplinary and criminal consequences.caseComplaint filed in Pakistan against "viral" lawyer who turned out to be AI-generatedcitizenWhen using an online legal adviser, check that the lawyer is real and a bar member.lawyerAI profiles that misuse a lawyer's name and appearance damage the profession's credibility.toolLG AI Research tool checks copyright risk in training data 45 times fastercorporate lawyerCopyright screening of training datasets can be automated, but the final assessment still requires review by legal experts.compliance specialistData screening can be done at scale with automated tools, with decisions documented alongside.regulationLaw Commission of England and Wales opens consultation on reviewing product liability lawcorporate lawyerThe liability risk of software and AI products should be assessed in light of the proposals.lawyerA submission to the consultation or a client briefing on the product liability changes can be prepared.data protectionClaude Code leaked users' email addresses in web search headers; Anthropic deployed a privacy fixcompliance specialistThe network traffic of developer AI tools should be checked from a data protection perspective.corporate lawyerContracts with suppliers should set out the notification conditions for data leak incidents.