In recent weeks, a third-party law firm, ClaimsHero, has launched an aggressive online campaign urging authors to opt out of the Bartz v. Anthropic copyright settlement. ClaimsHero—which has no litigation experience in federal court—is using online ads and other means to goad authors to reject the court pre-approved settlement of approximately $3,000 per work split between rights holders, to “fight for up to $150,000 per book” by opting out and letting them pursue a separate lawsuit. It also set up its website to lure in authors who think they are filing a claim in the suit. This might sound appealing to unsuspecting authors, but as the federal judge overseeing the settlement made clear last week, ClaimsHero’s campaign is not just misleading—it may be unlawful.

ClaimsHero’s business model depends on aggregating enough opt-outs to file a competing class action against Anthropic—one likely far riskier for authors. In order to compel authors to opt out, ClaimsHero has used deceitful tactics, including buttons that read “Start Claim” to initiate an opt out. Counsel for the Bartz plaintiffs referred to this as “a bait-and-switch scheme” in a motion to force the outfit to stop making false and misleading representations to class members.

In response to the motion, on November 13, Judge William Alsup held a hearing to address ClaimsHero’s conduct, calling it, among other things, “a fraud of immense proportions,” a “blatant attempt…to trick people into opting out,” a “quick-buck” scheme, and last but not least “extortion,” threatening to refer the outfit to the U.S. attorney for investigation into fraud. The judge ordered ClaimsHero to update its website within 48 hours to clarify that the company has no experience litigating in federal or state court and to remove any use of the word “claims” that class counsel believes is misleading. Pointedly, Judge Alsup remarked that “ClaimsHero isn’t a hero of anything” and called ClaimsHero CEO Matthew Freund to testify in person at an evidentiary hearing on November 25, 2025.  

All class members have the right to opt out of the settlement and preserve their right to sue separately. By opting out an author forfeits the payment but preserves their right to sue Anthropic for the infringement separately or as part of another class. ClaimsHero portends to represent those who wish to opt out but under false pretenses and without disclosing the full consequences of opting out. It has made highly speculative—indeed unlikely—claims about alternative lawsuits. There’s no guarantee that a successive lawsuit would reap a larger recovery, and it’s very unlikely that a court would award $150,000 in damages—the highest possible award for infringement—which Anthropic would surely appeal and seek to set aside.

For those wishing to opt out, the Anthropic Settlement Website provides clear instructions (copied below). Authors should not rely on third-party solicitations. The Authors Guild is also available to assist members with questions about the settlement and opting out if they wish.