Owners filed in the Anthropic book-rights settlement by checking the Works List Lookup tool, then submitting online or by mail to JND Legal Administration. The filing deadline was March 30, 2026, with online forms received and mailed forms postmarked by that date. The Associated Press reported via the MTSU Free Speech Center in its judge approval report that the deal was worth $1.5 billion. It covered books allegedly taken from pirate libraries to train Claude, with final approval granted July 20, 2026.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Mtsu — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Anthropiccopyrightsettlement — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
Who Could File
Eligibility depended on rights ownership, not mere readership. JND Legal Administration limited claims to legal, beneficial, or sole owners of reproduction rights. Publishers were the typical legal owners. Authors were the typical beneficial owners.
Officers and employees of Anthropic could not claim. Court personnel assigned to the case were also excluded. A book had to appear on the official Works List. If it did not appear, it was not part of the settlement.
How Filing Worked
Claimants started with the Works List Lookup tool. They confirmed each title before preparing a form. They then used the secure settlement portal for online filing.
Or they mailed a paper form to JND Legal Administration, PO Box 91204, Seattle, WA 98111. Filing followed three practical checks: Submitting a valid claim gave up the right to sue Anthropic separately over the settled claims. A work missing from the Works List should not have had a claim submitted.
- Confirm ownership type for each book
- Confirm each title on the Works List
- File online or mail the paper form before the deadline
Which Deadlines Mattered
JND Legal Administration states in its deadline notice that online forms had to be received by March 30, 2026. Mailed forms had to be postmarked by the same date. The site now states that deadline has passed.
Opt-out and objection requests were due February 9, 2026. Re-inclusion requests for previously excluded works were due March 9, 2026. Those dates have also passed.
What Happens After Filing
JND Legal Administration said in its September 2026 homepage update that first payments are expected on or before November 15, 2026. That date covers only undisputed works with complete payment information.
Disputed works are held in escrow for a later distribution. Complete payment information controls whether a work can be paid in the first distribution.