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Meta’s Lead Lawyer Resigns over Zuckerberg's 'Toxic Masculinity'  

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Meta’s lead lawyer in the high-profile Meta copyright case, announced on his resignation, due to the moral concerns over CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Lemley, Meta’s lead lawyer in the high-profile Meta copyright case, announced on Monday his resignation, effective January 14, due to the moral concerns over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s “descent into toxic masculinity.” 

The lead lawyer, a partner at Lex Lumina PLLC and the director of Stanford Law School’s Program in Law, Science & Technology announced the news on LinkedIn, citing moral reservations about Zuckerberg’s path as he goes forward with the company, mentioning intentions to step back despite defending the company over AI using copyrighted works claims. 

Lemley had been representing Meta in the still-ongoing Meta copyright case filed by authors and comedians, including novelist Richard Kadrey and comedian Sarah Silverman.  

In that previous Meta generative AI lawsuit, the accusers note that Meta’s generative AI model, Llama, was trained on their copyrighted works, which were sourced from piracy websites.  This raises significant concerns about the use of illegal data in AI development and its implications for intellectual property rights. 

“While I think they are right and I hope they prevail in the generative AI copyright case with which I was engaged to represent them, I can no longer in good conscience be their lawyer,” Lemley said in his post. 

Meta is facing a legal challenge from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the use of copyrighted materials in training its AI models. The SEC alleges Meta failed to disclose how it used these materials without proper authorization, raising concerns about transparency and intellectual property rights. 

If Meta is found in violation, it could face significant fines and regulatory actions. The case may set an important precedent for how AI companies handle copyrighted content in the future. 

Zuckerberg’s Political Shifts 

Lemley stepping down from Meta generative AI legal lawsuit comes amid the growing controversy at Meta over Zuckerberg’s apparent shift to more conservative political stances, especially as the company deals with the political landscape surrounding the President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration.  

During an interview with NPR, Meta Oversight Board co-chair Michael McConnell praised Zuckerberg’s efforts of to reform Meta’s fact-checking program but added that it had been rolled out poorly.  

McConnell joined Lemley in voicing concerns over Zuckerberg’s political influence over the company. 

“I would have liked to have seen these reforms laid out… in less contentious and partisan times,” McConnell said.  

Though Lemley mentioned he wouldn’t delete his account on Facebook, the lead lawyer did express discontent with the way the social platforms at Meta are evolving.  

He announced plans to stop engaging with ads on Meta’s sites and said he would leave Threads for Bluesky, adding that “the last thing I need is to support a Twitter-like site run by a Musk wannabe,” showing his worries about the trajectory Meta is following. 

The generative AI and copyright law has shed light on Meta’s strategy, driving criticism to the company, especially that this is not their first copyright lawsuit. 

Lemley’s departure reflects a wider frustration within Meta society, which is embattled both legally and from within due to political changes.  

With increasing questions about Zuckerberg’s leadership, the future of Meta is uncertain, especially with the company criticized by various sides. 

Meta has yet to comment on its lead lawyer’s resignation, leaving speculations about how the social giant will address mounting tensions and criticism in the months ahead. 

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