Anthropic’s book-scanning sparks rare book rush in Barnet and London
Rare book dealers report anonymous bulk orders after US court ruling allows AI firms to scan and destroy legally purchased books
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Rare book dealers in Barnet and across London have reported a surge in anonymous bulk orders for specialist titles, following a US court ruling that allows AI companies to scan and destroy legally purchased books. The orders, described by one dealer as "dystopian," coincide with Anthropic’s admission that it sliced the spines off millions of books to train its AI models.
Anthropic, the company behind the AI model Claude, launched "Project Panama" after concluding that books were "essential" for training advanced systems. Internal documents, as reported by Futurism, revealed executives wanted to keep the project secret, fearing public backlash over the destruction of physical copies.
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Barnet dealers see unexplained orders
A London-based rare book seller, who spoke to City AM, said they received two unusually large enquiries from anonymous email addresses in recent months. Both buyers requested additional photographs of the books before placing orders but refused to disclose their identities or the purpose of the purchases.
The pattern mirrors reports from Europe, where antiquarian booksellers have received similar requests for thousands of obscure titles. 404 Media reported a sharp rise in bulk purchases, with buyers often concealing their identities. Social media users have criticised the practice, calling it a "dystopian" hunt for training data.
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Court ruling fuels demand for pre-2022 books
On 29 July 2024, a US federal judge ruled that Anthropic’s scanning process was protected by fair use because the company legally bought each book before converting it to digital form. The ruling has accelerated demand for printed books, particularly those published before 2022, which are seen as free from AI-generated content.
Companies like ISBNdb now offer bulk book-buying services to AI labs, sourcing between 1,000 and one million books at a time. The firm describes printed books as "the world’s best AI training data" and insists on non-disclosure agreements to protect buyers’ identities. It acknowledges the reputational risks, warning that headlines like "AI company destroys two million books" would not generate sympathy.
What happens next for London sellers
Barnet Council’s trading standards team confirmed they have not received formal complaints about the bulk book purchases but urged dealers to report any suspicious activity. The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association, which represents rare book sellers, said it is monitoring the situation and advising members to exercise caution when dealing with anonymous buyers.
Anthropic has not commented on whether it is directly involved in the recent bulk purchases reported in London. The company previously stated that books were necessary to teach its AI systems "how to write well," rather than relying on "low-quality internet speak."
Questions this report answers
+Why are AI companies buying rare books in London?
AI companies like Anthropic are buying rare books to train their models, as printed works published before 2022 are seen as free from AI-generated content. A US court ruled the practice legal if the books are legally purchased and destroyed after scanning, as reported by MyLondon.
+How much did Anthropic pay to settle claims over pirated books?
Anthropic agreed to a $1.5 billion (£1.13 billion) settlement over claims relating to its earlier use of pirated digital books. The settlement was reported by MyLondon on 15 August 2024 and has accelerated demand for physical books.
+What should Barnet book dealers do if they receive suspicious orders?
Barnet Council’s trading standards team advises dealers to report any suspicious bulk orders, particularly from anonymous buyers. The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association is also monitoring the situation and advising caution, as reported by City AM.
+What did the US court ruling on Anthropic’s book scanning say?
A US federal judge ruled on 29 July 2024 that Anthropic’s scanning of legally purchased books was protected by fair use. The company destroyed the physical copies after scanning, which the court deemed permissible, according to MyLondon.
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