Independent publisher Entangled will expand their Red Tower imprint to the UK, in a partnership with PRH UK’s Penguin Michael Joseph division. The line launches this summer, with SHIELD OF SPARROWS by Devney Perry, and plans to grow to 12 titles a year. Entangled publisher Liz Pelletier says in the announcement: “At Entangled Publishing, our mission has always been to bring extraordinary stories to readers everywhere. This partnership with Penguin Michael Joseph marks an exciting new chapter for us, expanding the reach of Red Tower Books across the globe. “With Penguin Random House’s exceptional passion for books and distribution networks, […]
International News
AAP Calls for AI Companies to Respect Copyright At Paris Summit
Several members of the International Publishers Association, including the Association of American Publishers, have issued a statement in connection with the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence being held in Paris this week. According to the IPA, the summit “intends to promote reliable, sustainable and responsible AI.” The IPA notes, “The summit…has a special responsibility as there will be no trusted AI without respect for intellectual property rights. There will be no ethical AI without the authorization of rightsholders. There will be no sovereign AI without a fair business model.” The statement, which is signed by 38 cultural and arts […]
Nourry Gives Details on Les Nouveaux Editeurs
The Bookseller reports that Arnaud Nourry told Livres Hebdo that his new publishing company, Les Nouveaux Editeurs, now comprises eight houses—two dedicated to “general literature,” one for nonfiction, and others focused on children’s books; comics, manga and graphic novels; essays; and other nonfiction. Two of the publishers have been named—La Tribu and Maison Pop—and the others will be announced in the coming months. LNE aims to publish 20–30 books in 2025, 100 in 2026, and 200–250 in 2027 and the royalty rate for “adult general literature” is at least 10 percent. Nourry plans to give the business over to his […]
Penguin Random House to Acquire Australia’s Text Publishing
Text Publishing in Melbourne, Australia announced a deal in which they will be acquired by Penguin Random House. The publisher was founded in 1990 and has been majority owned by publisher Michael Heyward and senior editor Penny Hueston, in partnership with Maureen and Tony Wheeler (the founders of Lonely Planet). Heyward said in the release, “Text has created an unparalleled space for itself in Australian publishing. Now it’s time for a new owner to provide a home for the company’s entrepreneurial energies and its family of brilliant authors. We are lucky to have the right custodian in Penguin Random House […]
UK Seeks Views on Controversial AI Opt-Out Change to Copyright Law
The UK government has begun a consultation period for a proposal that would make exceptions to copyright law, allowing tech companies to use copyrighted material to train AI unless rights holders specifically opt out. In a statement, the government said, “At present, the application of UK copyright law to the training of AI models is disputed. Rights holders are finding it difficult to control the use of their works in training AI models and seek to be remunerated for its use. AI developers are similarly finding it difficult to navigate copyright law in the UK, and this legal uncertainty is […]
Louis Hachette Group Stock Jumps On First Listing
The new spin-off company created by Vivendi, the Louis Hachette Group, started trading in France on Monday morning. The stock was priced at €1.12 per share, giving the company an initial market capitalization of €1.11 billion–though shares jumped at the open, trading above €1.40 per share during the morning. The group comprises Vivendi’s controlling share in Lagardere, which still trades on its own, as well as Prisma Media. The value of the new spinoff seems modest, however, given that Lagardere on its own has a market cap of almost €3 billion.