In a lengthy feature for Bloomberg, Vauhini Vara describes the publishing process at self-publishing startup Inkitt. The piece details the company’s use of AI to create stories and video content based on a writer’s ideas, a pivot that the company noted during their Series C funding round in early 2024. As previously reported, the company counts Macmillan chair Stefan von Holtzbrinck as an investor, as well as former Sony and Penguin Group ceo Michael Lynton. Former Harper Collins ceo Jane Friedman is an advisor (though they all joined before the company implemented their AI strategy). Authors can upload their stories on […]
AI
Work Must Be Human-Authored for Copyright, US Report States
The US Copyright Office issued Part 2 of its report on generative AI, which examines whether works that use generative AI can be copyrighted. Consistent with the paper they issued in early 2023, the office reasserts the existing framework that a work must be human authored to be copyrighted, and that “questions of copyrightability and AI can be resolved pursuant to existing law, without the need for legislative change.” The report also assesses the copyrightability for AI-created work, and compares US policy to those around the world. The report does take on the subtler questions around uses of AI by […]
Amazon Launches “Recaps” Book Summaries Generated In Part By AI
Amazon has launched a Kindle “Recaps” feature for English-language book series in the US, which gives summaries to catch up readers on plot points and characters before they read a later book in the series. An Amazon spokesperson told TechCrunch that the summaries are built with AI. “We use technology, including GenAI and Amazon moderators, to create short recaps of books that accurately reflect book content,” they said. Amazon has not yet responded to PL’s inquiry about how they approached acquiring rights to copy and ingest full books in order to create AI-generated summaries. New Kindle software will include the […]
Harper’s Murray Discusses AI and More On Podcast
The latest Open Road podcast features an interview with HarperCollins ceo Brian Murray. The conversation includes ample discussion of the intersection of AI and book publishing. On the AI licensing deal for backlist nonfiction books that Harper offered to authors and agents starting last November, Murray reports that, “So far, the vast majority of authors that we have spoken with have opted into it, but it’s their choice. At HarperCollins, we ourselves see ourselves as trying to find a way forward. It’s a little bit like threading a needle — where you want to protect copyright, protect IP, you want […]
NYT’s Copyright Infringement Claims Against OpenAI Will Go To Trial
The NYT’s well-drafted copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft has survived the defendants’ motions to dismiss and the primary claims will go to trial. Filed in the New York’s Southern District, the order was granted by Judge Sidney Stein, who did grant with prejudice a motion to dismiss unfair competition by misappropriation claims, while also striking other modest claims from various related lawsuits. Judge Stein’s brief order indicated he “will issue an Opinion setting forth the reasons for this ruling expeditiously,” with a schedule for proceedings to come thereafter.
Atlantic Allows You to Search Pirated Books on LibGen
The Atlantic has released a tool that allows people to search what books are included in the massive LibGen pirate database, based on metadata. According to court documents in the Kadrey v. Meta copyright infringement case, Meta used LibGen to train their GenAI tool Llama. LibGen includes approximately 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers. You will see a lot of enraged social media posts from authors, as the tool helps personalize the comprehensive scale of the theft. As previously reported, Meta engaged briefly in conversations with publishers about licensing books, but decided not to because it was too […]