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Both Google and the authors' and artists' lead counsel oppose textbook authors' bid to join the Google AI case and lead their own textbook subclass

On Oct. 19, 2026, both sides in the class action over Google's AI training answered the Sept. 28 motion by seven textbook authors (Michael Sullivan, Kenneth Saladin, Zvi Bodie, Alan Marcus, Kevin Patton, Lion Den Inc. and Dana Loewy) to intervene, file a complaint and lead a textbook-author subclass. Interim co-lead counsel for the authors and artists do not object to the textbook authors filing their own complaint and having it related to this case, but oppose any change to the court's leadership order. They argue the motion is untimely, that textbook owners already fall within the proposed Books Class as beneficial owners, and that no conflict has been shown; they suggest the court deny it without prejudice or wait until 60 days after it rules on class certification. Google opposes intervention entirely, calling the request "too little, too late" because it came three years into the case and long after class certification was briefed and argued, and says the movants' points about textbooks support its view that ownership, licensing and damages need work-by-work proof. A hearing is set for Jan. 6, 2027. These are the parties' arguments, not rulings.