Class Action Alleges That Grammarly Misappropriated the Names of Journalists and Authors Through its “Expert Review” That Lets Users Get Feedback on Writing From Experts
Lawsuit alleges that Grammarly violated state privacy laws that protect people from having their names and identities used for commercial purposes without their prior consent
Contact: Peter Romer-Friedman - (202) 355-6364 or peter@prf-law.com
New York, NY— Today, Julia Angwin, an award-winning journalist and editor, filed a class action lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan against Superhuman Platform, Inc., the owner of Grammarly (Grammarly), alleging that Grammarly violated the privacy and publicity rights of her and many other journalists, authors, and editors by exploiting their names and identities for profit without their consent through Grammarly’s “Expert Review” tool.
As the lawsuit alleges, in August 2025 Grammarly launched an “Expert Review” tool where, for $12 a month, Grammarly users could upload their writing and receive real-time feedback and comments on how to improve their prose from well-known journalists like Ms. Angwin and even famous authors like Stephen King, among other acclaimed journalists, writers, editors, and other professionals. However, as the suit alleges, Grammarly never sought or obtained consent from Ms. Angwin or the other “Experts” whose names and identities Grammarly misappropriated in the Expert Review tool. The suit alleges that this conduct violated New York and California laws that require a person’s consent before using their name for commercial purposes.
The lawsuit asks the Court to certify a plaintiff class of all the “Experts” whose names and identities Grammarly used without consent in its Expert Review, to prohibit Grammarly from further using their names and identities without their consent, and to compensate the “Experts” for the unauthorized use of their names and identities.
Ms. Angwin is represented by Peter Romer-Friedman Law PLLC, a civil rights and public interest law firm based in New York City and Washington, DC.
Julia Angwin said, “I have worked for decades honing my skills as a writer and editor, and I am distressed to discover that a tech company is selling an imposter version of my hard-earned expertise.”
Peter Romer-Friedman, the founder and managing partner of Peter Romer-Friedman Law PLLC, said, “For over 100 years, New York law has prohibited companies from using a person’s name for commercial purposes without their consent. The law does not provide an exception for technology companies or AI. We’re filing this lawsuit today to protect the rights of hard-working reporters, editors, and authors so that they can decide when and how their names are used.”
The lawsuit is known as Angwin v. Superhuman Platform, Inc., No. 26 Civ. 02005 (S.D.N.Y), and is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
