Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler considering legal action against AI firms in Germany

World-renowned children's book illustrator Axel Scheffler has announced that he is considering legal steps in Germany against artificial intelligence companies for the unauthorized reproduction of his works by AI firms.

Axel Scheffler, the illustrator of The Gruffalo—published since 1999 and having sold more than 18 million copies worldwide—has expressed his discomfort with his works being used without permission by artificial intelligence models. The London-based artist stated that he has been in contact with a lawyer in Germany and is seriously weighing legal avenues against these practices by AI companies.

Scheffler, who does not use a smartphone, stated that he realized his works were being digitally reproduced via AI in places like Silicon Valley and Oktoberfest when someone else showed it to him. Expressing that he was shocked by the images he encountered, the illustrator emphasized that his characters were copied line for line and that this constitutes a clear copyright infringement.

Scheffler noted that the potential legal process he is considering launching to protect creative works would not focus on compensation, but rather aim to protect the rights of both current and future artists. Defending that artificial intelligence can never replace a hand-drawn work, the artist advised young illustrators to continue working with traditional methods.

Legal process and copyright debates

Nick Buckland, an intellectual property lawyer from the law firm Lewis Silkin, stated that Germany could offer a route of assurance for content creators. Buckland recalled that music collecting societies in Germany have won lawsuits against artificial intelligence companies by proving that lyrics were copied word for word.

On the other hand, it is known that OpenAI has been sued by the German publishing house Penguin Random House and author-illustrator Ingo Siegner over the unauthorized use of the character 'The Little Dragon Coconut' (Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss). The Munich Regional Court is expected to rule on the outcome of this lawsuit in the spring of 2027.

Carina Mathern, a member of the Penguin Random House executive board, stated that they aim to effectively protect copyrights in the age of artificial intelligence and ensure fair conditions for creative professionals. An OpenAI spokesperson reported that they are holding productive discussions with rights holders worldwide to address copyright complaints and protect intellectual property.