Anthropic sued for infringing neural network technology patents

July 21, 2026 11:43 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: Anthropic logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Blake Brittain

July ‌21 (Reuters) - A nonprofit ​that ​licenses the University of Tennessee's intellectual property has sued artificial-intelligence giant Anthropic in Delaware federal court ‌for allegedly infringing its patents related to neural ⁠networks.

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation's complaint, filed on Monday and ‌made public on Tuesday, ‌said that Anthropic's AI systems violate its patents on machine-learning technology inspired by neuroscience.

The lawsuit is thought ​to be the first patent infringement case against Anthropic. A California federal judge on Monday approved the ⁠company's landmark $1.5 billion settlement of a class action copyright lawsuit brought by a ​group of authors over its use of their work to train AI.

"Anthropic’s cavalier approach to ​others’ intellectual property rights in ‌the development of its products extends beyond the use of copyrighted material," the foundation said ⁠in its complaint.

"We disagree with the allegations and intend to defend this case vigorously," an Anthropic spokesperson said in ⁠response to the lawsuit.

Spokespeople for the foundation did not immediately respond ​to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

The Knoxville, Tennessee, organization argued that Anthropic's systems infringe two patents covering "significant contributions to the ‌fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, neuromorphic computing, and neuroscience-inspired computing" invented by the ‌university's professors.

It asked the court for an unspecified amount ⁠of monetary damages and ‌an order blocking ​Anthropic from infringing its patents.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Aurora ‌Ellis)



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