AI: Copyright Challenges Now Includes a New York Times Lawsuit - Publishing Perspectives

There are a lot of links included in the post.

Panzer was out tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about a new lawsuit against OpenAI.

According to Porter Anderson's post, the New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microscoft. The lawsuit accuses them of using the New York Times articles "to train chatbots." The lawsuit also brings up the issue of copyright infringement since the articles were used without permission or payment. The post also contains information about other lawsuits and links to other posts with more information about the lawsuits.

Panzer says, "This could get very interesting."

Note: This is a very long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on while you read.

To read the post tootle over to New York Times lawsuit

Supreme Court Divided on Sales Taxes for Online Purchases - New York Times

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the New York Times site. There our adventuresome kitty pilot found a post about the Supreme Court's deliberations about internet sales taxes.

According to the post by Adam Liptak, the U.S. Supreme Court has been hearing arguments in the case of states having the ability to collect internet sales taxes from companies not located (do not have a presence) within their borders. It appears from the questions and statements made by the justices during the presentation of evidence that they are divided on the issue. The case before the Supreme Court involves the state of South Dakota vs. Wayfair. South Dakota wants Wayfair to collect sales taxes on all online purchases made by state residents. The company would then give the sales tax money to the state. If the justices agree with South Dakota, all online businesses would be required to follow the new law. The post does state Amazon has nothing to do with the case as the company already collects state's sales taxes and pays the money to the states.

Just thinking about it makes me tired.

Panzer says, "This little kitty thinks this could cause a lot of trouble for small internet companies if they have to collect taxes for all fifty states."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Supreme Court Justices

Speaking Up to Windows 10 - The New York Times

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to The New York Times site. With a little digging around in the Personal Tech section posts there, our adventuresome kitty found a post about Windows 10.

According to a post in the Tech Tip column by J.D. Biersdorfer, Windows 10 has a speech recognition feature included in it. Speech recognition allows you to dictate your manuscript to your word processing program. Training on how to setup and use the feature is also included. The post has instructions about how to access the speech recognition feature and train it to recognize your voice. There are links to other information included in the post.

Listen to me ... Me-ow ... Me-ow.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders how long it will take to teach it to recognize cat speech."

Note: This is a longish-medium post. Bring a cup and a half of tea and one muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Windows 10

More Protests Against 'NYT' Bestseller Cuts - Publishers' Weekly

Panzer was just tootling around in the Catosphere today when his delicate kitty hearing was attacked by yelling and screaming. Following the cacophony took our poor kitty to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site.  With a little digging there he found a news release about the New York Times (NYT) cuts to their bestseller lists. A few days ago Panzer told you when the cuts happened and authors' and publishers' reactions to them then.

A lot of humans are really angry.

According the release, now there is even more backlash against the New York Times (NYT) cuts of the mass market paperback bestseller list and the ebook bestseller list. Six authors' organizations, including the Mystery Writers of America, have joined forces to protest NYT's cuts to the lists. A total of 20,000 authors are members in the organizations issuing the statement.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Do you think the New York Times cares if 20,000 authors complain? Now, if it was 20,000 subscribers, they might care. But 20,000 authors? I don't think so."

Note: This is a short news release. Bring a cup of tea to read today's selection. If you want to read Panzer's other post about the bestseller list cuts (this one has links to other posts), bring a thermos of tea and two muffins.

To read the post, tootle over to New York Times Bestseller Lists

To read Panzer's other post about NYT's bestseller lists cuts, tootle over to bestseller list cuts

RWA Urges 'NYT' to Reconsider Bestseller List Decision - Publishers' Weekly

Today Panzer took a trip into the Catosphere to see what he could find about the New York Times cutting some of their bestseller lists. Our inquiring kitty told you about the cuts a few days ago. His information gathering trip today took him to the Publishers' Weekly site.  After a little digging he found information about publishers reactions to the cuts.

According to a post from the Romance Writers of America (RWA), the group would like the New York Times (NYT) to reconsider the cutting of the mass market and ebook bestseller lists. The RWA feels its female romance author members are being discriminated against since they dominate these bestseller lists.

According to a second post Panzer found, graphic novel and manga publishers were upset to learn that those bestseller lists are also being cut. Most of these publishers feel the loss of the graphic novel and manga bestseller lists will impact their sales.

Wake me in a week.

Panzer says, "Maybe the New York Times should have given some notice they were going to make these cuts."

Note: These posts taken as a whole are very long. Bring three thermos of tea and four dozen muffins if you plan to read all three posts in today's reading selection.

To read the post from the Romance Writers of America (RWA), tootle over to RWA

To read the post about the graphic novel and manga publishers, tootle over to bestseller lists

To read Panzer's original post about the New York Times' announcement about cutting some of their bestseller lists, tootle over to  NYT cuts bestseller lists

New York Times Cuts a Range of Bestseller Lists - Publishers Weekly

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard yelling and screaming and gnashing of teeth ahead of the Panzermobile. Following all the noise took our brave kitty to the Publishers' Weekly site. There he found a post about the New York Times' Bestsellers List.

According to the post by Calvin Reid, the New York Times (NYT) is cutting the mass market paperback, middle grade ebooks, young adult ebooks, graphic novels and manga lists. The New York Times (NYT) states the changes will allow them more space for coverage other than bestseller lists. The NYT will announce the specific bestseller lists as they are eliminated.

How did they choose?

Panzer says, "This little kitty is confused ... How did they decide which lists to cut? Did they see the ebook authors having all their email list subscribers pre-order their books so they could claim NYT Bestseller status? Just asking."

Note: This is a shortish-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to New York Times

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' Rocket Company, to Launch From Florida - The New York Times

My rocket is faster than yours.

Today Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere looking for something interesting to report on. Our inquisitive kitty boy stopped in at the New York Times site. It took a lot of digging, but he found a post about Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his rocket company. If you're like Panzer, you didn't know Mr. Bezos had a rocket company or was looking for a launch site.

According to the post by Kenneth Chang, Mr. Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin will have a factory in Florida near their new launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Even though Mr. Bezos made the announcement personally, he didn't elaborate on what the rockets will be carrying.

Panzer says, "When did he go from books to outer space?"

Note: The post is located below the excerpt from Mr. Bezos' announcement. This is a r-e-a-l-l-y l-o-n-g post, so bring an e-n-o-r-m-o-u-s cup of tea.

To read the post, tootle over to Blue Origin

Microsoft Windows 10 Privacy Settings

A little privacy please.

Panzer woke up from his afternoon nap to all kinds of crying and hissing and booing. Following all the noise, took our brave kitty boy to the New York Times site.

According to a post by J. D. Biersdorfer, Microsoft's new Windows 10 has taken a lot of your privacy away. It will be tracking your keystrokes on your computer keyboard, keeping track of your Contacts list, and keeping track of where your computer is. Why? Remember that little (actually huge) Privacy Terms document you agreed to when you installed Windows 10? Well, you gave Microsoft permission to do all that and more, because the privacy defaults allow this. To opt out now, you'll have to change all of your privacy settings.

Panzer says, "If you don't care that Microsoft knows everything you type in your emails, your work documents, and your private journal, don't change your privacy settings."

To read the post, tootle over to privacy

Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Authors

12,000 words?

Panzer has been feeling a little sick for the past week. Today he felt well enough to take a short trip into the Catosphere.

My big bad kitty pilot stopped the Panzermobile in at the Bits blog at the New York Times site. In a post by David Streitfeld my poor boy learned a lot about the Kindle Unlimited program that he didn't want to know.

Mr. Streitfeld tells the experiences of novelist Kathryn Le Veque with the new Kindle Unlimited (KU) program. Ms. Le Veque has 50 novels up at Amazon some on KU, some on Amazon. Even with that many novels uploaded, Ms. Le Veque continues her writing output. Sometimes now, she will write and 18 hour day and turn out 12,000 words. Why? To keep her income up. But, Ms. Le Veque does say she doesn't mind working that hard.

Panzer says, "My paws hurt just thinking about 12,000 words a day!"

Warning! This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g p-o-s-t. You'll need a very b-i-g c-u-p of t-e-a and a v-e-r-y b-i-g c-o-o-k-i-e.

To read the full post, tootle over to publish or perish

P.D. James Mystery Novelist Dies

We lost one of the good ones.

Panzer found some bad news in the Catosphere today.

My bad boy kitty reporter stopped in at the New York Times site. In a post by Marilyn Stasio he discovered one of his favorite mystery authors P.D. James died on Thursday. Ms. James was the author of the Scotland Yard detective Adam Dalgliesh mysteries.

Panzer says, "May you rest in peace in the forever land of crime and mystery."

To read the full post, tootle over to P.D. James

YouTube Subscription Services Coming Soon?

We'd all subscribe to that.

Panzer heard some sniffling noises in the Catosphere today. With a check-in at the New York Times Bits site he found the source of the crying.

According to a post by Connor Dougherty in which he quotes statements made by YouTube's Susan Wojcicki subscription services are in YouTube's planned future. The much anticipated music subscription service is one, as is a gaming service.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Will there be a Girl Kitties of San Francisco subscription service?"

To read the whole post, tootle over to YouTube subscriptions

What will it be?

Panzer was out in the Catosphere when he followed some news crumbs to The New York Times site.

There my big kitty boy-reporter learned that, according to a post by David Streitfield and Charles V. Bagli, there are more rumors circulating about Amazon. Now before you run away screaming, these are not bad rumors.  It's being bandied about that Amazon may be opening a bricks and mortar store in New York city. Or may be opening office space in New York city. Or may be opening a warehouse distribution center in New York city.

Panzer says, "That's the thing about rumors. There's never just one."

To read the full post, tootle over to Amazon real estate

Literary Agent Asks Clients To Join Authors United

Today Panzer was cruising in the Catosphere when he felt a thump. The Panzermobile got caught in a tractor beam and pulled over to the New York Times site. There my bad boy found it was a post by David Streitfeld that caught him.

My tummy hurts I have no literary merit

Turns out Authors United has a new standard bearer. Literary agent Andrew Wylie has sent a letter to all of his clients asking them to join bestselling author Douglas Preston's Authors United group and quite a few of them have agreed to join. According to Mr. Streitfeld's post, Mr. Wylie says Amazon's lack of marketing some books will lead to the "end of literary culture in America."

Panzer says, "But ... wait. Does that mean my books sold now on Amazon don't contribute to the literary culture? Don't my books have literary merit?"

Warning: You'll need a very b-i-g cup of tea. This is a very l-o-n-g post because it has quotes from not only Mr. Wylie but some of his clients as well.

To read the whole post, tootle over to more Authors United

Douglas Preston-Hachette vs. Amazon

Guess what? You aren't the biggest tomcat.

Panzer heard yowling and CATerwauling from the Catosphere this morning so he headed out in the Panzermobile. He followed all the noise over to the Publishers Weekly site.

My bad boy discovered bestselling author Douglas Preston is continuing his foray into the Amazon-Hachette contract dispute. Mr. Preston sent an email to the authors who signed his New York Times advertisement aimed at Amazon last month to be ready to start another initiative (claws unsheathed cat fight) against Amazon. Until Mr. Preston decides what his tactic will be this time, he wants his anti-Amazon 900 authors strong army to start a writing campaign of blog posts, social media posts and newspaper opinion pieces against Amazon

Panzer says, "Hey guys, did you every hear the phrase, 'Don't shoot  yourself in the foot?' I'm sorry to tell you, but in case you didn't know, nobody can tell a retailer they have to carry a product (book or ebook or whatever) if they don't want to."

If you want to read the whole post, tootle over to Douglas Preston

Hachette's Pietsch Responds To Amazon's Readers Emails

Mine! Now get out of there!

Panzer is back home after a trip to Publishers Weekly's site in the Catosphere.

My bad boy found a post there about Amazon's response to Douglas Preston's New York Times advertisement asking people who support him to email Amazon's Jeff Bezos. In response, Amazon setup an online site and asked people who support Amazon to email Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch.

So ...

Mr. Pietsch sent letters to the supporters of Amazon who have been emailing him.

Panzer says, "Would you guys get out of my litter box? It's so full I can't even get in to use it."

To read the latest in the Douglas Preston-Amazon and Amazon-Hachette disputes, tootle over to Hachette's Pietsch

The Douglas Preston vs. Amazon Dispute Continues

Be quiet! I need sleep!

Panzer is not a happy kitty. First, my bad boy hasn't been able to get any sleep because of all the noise in the Catosphere about the Amazon-Hachette dispute. Now, the Douglas Preston-Amazon dispute my sleepy kitty told you about is making noise again. This time Mr. Preston tells David Streitfeld at the New York Times website he's worried because his book sales at Amazon are down.

So ...

His letter to Amazon (that he's had all over the Catosphere for weeks) will finally appear in Sunday's New York Times newspaper in a full page ad. Some of the authors from Mr. Preston's Authors United group who signed the letter paid the $104,000 price tag for the ad.

Panzer says, "Can't you humans get it straight, Mr. Preston? You never ever bite the hand that feeds you (or sells your books)."

Be prepared. This is a very long post and the comments section is long too. You'll also find a link in the post to the letter from authors who support Amazon in the Amazon-Hachette dispute.
 
To read the latest from Douglas Preston about his Authors United group and his views on Amazon, tootle over to writers battle amazon

Douglas Preston and 900 Other Authors' Letter To Amazon

Finally.

Panzer got jarred out of his morning nap by yowling and hissing coming from the Catosphere. My bad boy jumped into the Panzermobile and followed all the noise to the Publishers Weekly site. Once there, he found a copy of bestselling author Douglas Preston's much talked and blogged about letter to Amazon about the Amazon-Hachette dispute. The letter has now been officially signed by 900 authors and will be published as a full-page ad in Sunday's New York Times newspaper.

The full letter and all of the signatures are included at the end of the article.

Panzer says, "Well ... after all these weeks of threatening to do the letter and the ad, finally, we get to see who signed it."

To read the letter and see if your favorite authors signed it, tootle over to open letter to amazon

3 Steps To Indie Publishing Success

It's magic!

Panzer found a great indie publishing success story over at the Publishers Weekly site, The post is about how Jen McLaughlin reached indie success and the New York Times E-Book Bestseller List with her romance Out of Line.

According to Ms. McLaughlin, she followed three steps to her success.

The steps were:
1. Hire an Editor
2. Hire a Designer
3. Hire a Publicist

Those three steps are ones we can all put to work for us.

If you want the full details about the three magic steps to indie success, tootle over to indie success story