Thomson Reuters announced Tuesday a deal to form a joint venture with private equity firm KKR, which will pay approximately $500 million for a 51 percent stake in Thomson’s Global Print business. That business comprises Thomson’s legal and tax information books, sold in print and through their ProView platform, as well as the company’s book printing division. Thomson Reuters will retain “full editorial control over its content portfolio.” The joint venture will “hold an exclusive license to distribute the content in print and on ProView, Global Print’s eBook platform.” Thomson Reuters stock has suffered this year, as investors fear AI […]
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Publishers File Novel, Winnable AI Suit, Alleging Google Raided Google Books and Play Files to Train Gemini
After literally dozens of metoo infringement lawsuits against the AI titans in multiple jurisdictions, on Friday three publishers filed a suit against Google in the Southern District of New York that stands on new, undisputable legal ground if supported by the facts. They allege that Google “illegally copied works” from such “scope-limited programs” as Google Books, the Google Play ebookstore, and Google Scholar in order “to train early iterations of the Gemini [AI] Models.” That behavior would be clear copyright infringement, outside of any conceivable Fair Use defense or other grey area related to the transformative development of AI models. […]
KDP Raises Price Ceiling for 70 Percent Royalty Rate for the First Time
Amazon announced that for those using Kindle Direct Publishing, the 70 percent royalty has expanded from a top price of $9.99 up to $12.99, effective July 7, “with equivalent changes in other KDP marketplaces” around the world. That is the first increase in the price band since 2007. As the Authors Guild notes, “This move also brings Amazon closer in line with its competitors: Apple Books and Barnes & Noble Press pay a flat 70 percent at every price point, and Kobo pays 70 percent on any ebook priced at $2.99 or above.”
BNED to Pay A Dividend
Barnes & Noble Education announced final fiscal 2026 results on Thursday afternoon, in line with the advance estimates provided last month. After recording net income for the first time since fiscal 2017, earning $16.9 million for the year, BNED said it would pay an inaugural dividend of 8 cents per share to shareholders of record on July 16, 2026. For the full year, the company had sales of $1.715 billion. Same-store sales rose by $71.3 million, up 4.4 percent for the year. Adjusted EBITDA was $76.5 million, and total debt at year-end was $71 million. They opened 50 stores during […]
“I’d Love To Learn More About Your Past, Present, and Future Projects”: Scams Continue To Plague Publishing
Last fall, in advance of the publication of my second novel, The Ten Year Affair, I began receiving a steady trickle of odd emails offering to help promote my book. The trickle soon became a deluge. Dozens and dozens of self-described marketing experts and people running book clubs reaching out, praising my book woodenly in obvious AI syntax, and then soliciting a fee for services. “I recently came across your upcoming novel, The Ten Year Affair,” read a typical email, “and was instantly drawn to its clever, emotionally layered premise. The dual-timeline exploration of connection, choice, and fantasy feels deeply relatable […]
WH Smith Drops to 16-Year-Low on Profit Warning, Capital Raise
WH Smith’s stock fell well over 15 percent in Wednesday trading after the company warned of soft sales and profit expectations for the second time this year. “Given the ongoing uncertainty from the Middle East conflict and pressures on gross margins, including the recent deterioration in the North America division,” the company expects profit before tax and non-underlying items of £75 million – £90 million. That’s down from a previous forecast of £90 million to £105 million issued in April, when they suspended their dividend. Due to restructuring across various parts of the company, they expect to take “a significant […]