An artificial intelligence startup has initiated legal action against the U.S. government concerning an export control directive that restricts access to advanced AI technologies developed by Anthropic PBC. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington on Tuesday, shortly after Anthropic disabled access to its most advanced AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, due to the Trump administration’s order.
Legion, a litigation technology company based in the U.S. that employs Canadian nationals remotely from Canada, claims the loss of access to the Fable 5 model has resulted in immediate and irreparable harm to its operations. The company argues that with the pace of AI development, any setback due to the unavailability of these models can have lasting negative consequences.
Legion emphasized that daily disruptions caused by the directive hinder the company’s product development and jeopardize its competitiveness in a rapidly evolving industry. The company seeks to address what it views as an existential threat to its survival, with plans to argue that the government’s actions may set a troubling precedent for other tech firms.
Anthropic has expressed appreciation to the administration for seeking to resolve the situation promptly, underscoring its commitment to compliance while safeguarding U.S. leadership in AI technologies.
Named in the lawsuit is Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who previously notified Anthropic that authorization from the government would be necessary for exporting its AI models, either internationally or to foreign nationals.
Legion’s CEO, Arthur Rothrock, articulated concern over the broader implications of the government’s directive, suggesting it could lead to similar actions against other companies in the tech sector.
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