Pangram’s “Similarity Checker” Compares Text, But its Sourcing Raises Questions
In September, a writer used a little-discussed feature of Pangram’s software, the plagiarism checker. In analyzing the unpublished manuscript, Pangram flagged two lines that were close to other writing—both common phrases, and not exact matches as a full sentence. One linked to a post in an online forum. The other linked to the full, pirated manuscript of a published book, hosted on Notability (which is supposed to be a private note-taking and annotation app, rather than a viewable or searchable content repository). Pangram’s plagiarism checker, which was added over a year ago in August 2025, “compares your text against billions […]
Bloomsbury Reports a Soft First Half; Expects Second Half to Break Records
Bloomsbury reported earnings for the first half of the fiscal year, ended August 31, with sales down 5 percent to £151.6 million. Adjusted profit before taxation and highlighted items was £16.8m, down 30 percent. In a release, the company called the results “a strong start” in a press release (even though they aren’t) and emphasized that they expect growth to come from the second half of the year, which will have two new Sarah J. Maas books and the premiere of a new HBO Harry Potter series. “We are progressing with key operational changes to support growth and enhance profitability […]
New Imprints: Wildlit
Harper Collins UK has launched Wildlit, a new adult imprint that “will publish ‘unabashedly bold, commercial and page-turning fiction’ across genres with romance ‘as the thread that ties it together’,” the Bookseller reports. Publisher Lindsey Heaven and publishing director Sarah Levison will lead the imprint, which will begin publishing in June 2027. “Establishing our New Adult imprint, Wildlit, and bringing such exciting talent on to the list has been a long-held dream of ours and we’re thrilled to seize this perfect moment to launch,” Heaven said. “Wildlit will be bold, commercial and dedicated to irresistibly addictive stories that capture the […]
Quebec Publisher Les Éditions du Boréal Drops Thélyson Orélien After Finding Evidence of AI Use
Quebec publisher Les Éditions du Boréal has dropped Canada-based author Thélyson Orélien after finding evidence of AI use in early versions of the manuscript of his prize-winning novel IT WAS EITHER THAT OR DIE. AI accusations first emerged in September on an anonymous X account. Orélien has continued to deny using AI to generate the manuscript, but on Wednesday, the publisher said in a statement: “New information, confirmed in recent days, indicates that artificial intelligence was used in the writing process of * C’était ça ou mourir* (It Was That or Die ), despite the author’s repeated assurances that he […]