Book Publishers Are Quietly Using More AI. Staff Are Revolting - Wired

I wonder if cover designer know about this?

Today, Panzer stopped at the Wired site where he discovered a post about publishers and AI.

 

According to interviews with employees at HarperCollins, Simon and Schuster and Hachette, all three are using AI in ways unknown to the public. These run from email to cover material.. If you've read about the books pulled by publishers because of "suspected" AI use, you'll find this post about their own use of AI interesting.

 

 Panzer says, "It's not that big a jump from back cover copy to front cover illustration."

 

Note: This is a long, long post. You'll need to decide what you want to bring to snack on. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Publishers and AI 

Publishers, Amazon Ask Court to Dismiss 'Illogical' E-book Price-Fixing Suit - Publishers Weekly

Today Panzer made a trip to the Publishers Weekly site. There with a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty boy found one about the lawsuit against Amazon and the Big 5 publishers for price-fixing.

 

When the case is explained that way, it makes no sense.

In his post Andrew Albanese reports Amazon and the Big 5 publishers' lawyers have asked the court to dismiss the 'illogical' case. The Big 5 publishers are Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster. Their lawyers say the case is 'illogical' because the case says Amazon and the publishers conspired through e-book price-fixing to make Amazon a monopoly. The lawyers say obviously the publishers wouldn't gain anything "from helping Amazon gain market power."

 

Panzer says, "If the case was held in my Kitty Court, I'd dismiss it."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Publishers and Amazon

Amazon E-book Case Sprawls, Lawyers Propose Consolidation - Publishers Weekly

 Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging in the posts our busy kitty found one about the Amazon ebook price-fixing case. Panzer told you about this court case back in January.

E-book price-fixing? How?

According to the post by Andrew Albanese, there are currently four different lawsuits accusing Amazon and publishers Hachette, HarperCollins, MacMillan, Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster of ebook price fixing. Lawyers with the Hagens Berman law firm have asked the judge in the case to consolidate all four cases into one class action suit. The post includes links to other information about the price-fixing allegations.

 

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't understand how stacking cases to be able to ask for a class action suit can be common knowledge in the court system and acceptable."

 

Note:This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring a thermos of cocoa and six muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon ebook case 

To read Panzer's previous post tootle over to Amazon ebook dominance

Germany's Bertelsmann To Buy Simon & Schuster for US$2.175 Billion - Publishing Perspectives

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all our speedy kitty found a post about Simon and Schuster and Bertelsmann.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, it was announced today that Penguin Random House (PRH) will buy Simon and Schuster for $2.175 Billion. PRH is actually owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Writers groups immediately asked for regulatory review of the sale. In the US the Authors Guild expressed its opposition to the sale on the grounds the merger would unfairly impact authors with less markets for their work. In Canada the Association of Canadian Publishers asked for a review of the sale on the grounds of "whether the sale violates the Competition Act ...". At the end of the post there are links to other information about the various publishing companies.

Who's getting too big now?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... People complain about Amazon getting too big? What about Bertelsmann buying up traditional publishers? Two now. Who's next?"

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of tea, eight muffins, six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and a brownie for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Bertelsmann

 

 

 

 

S&S and Ingram Cancel: COVID-19 Concerns Mount for London Book Fair - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishing Perspectives site. It didn't take any digging at all to find a post about the London Book Fair.

I wouldn't go if I might get stuck there.

According to Porter Anderson, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is behind the withdrawl of publishers Simon and Schuster and the Ingram Content Group from the London Book Fair. Aside from the possibility of contracting COVID-19, attendees have other worries. If an attendee is exposed to an infected person, there is the14 days of isolation either in London or upon returning to their home country.  Also, if there are new travel restrictions, an attendee may not even be allowed to travel home. The Book Fair is scheduled for March 10 to 12.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This virus thingy is starting to cause a lot of trouble for the publishing industry."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. Bring two cups of tea and three muffins for your reading today. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea and a dozen muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Simon and Schuster

Simon & Schuster's Vanity Press Launches NaNoWriMo Writing Contest to Exploit More Writers - The Digital Reader

Because Panzer is helping with the baking for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, he made a very short trip into the Catosphere today. Our flour covered kitty made a quick stop at The Digital Reader site. With hardly any digging at all he found a post about Simon and Schuster and National Novel Writing Month.

Listen. This is bad, bad, bad.

According to the post by The Digital Reader site owner Nate Hoffelder, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) participants (like Panzer and me) need to be particularly careful about a contest run by publisher Simon and Schuster. Archway Publishing (Simon and Schuster's vanity publishing subsidiary) is running a contest called Hot Books, Cold Nights Romance Novel Writing Contest for NaNoWriMo Winners. (You're a Winner if you write 50,000 words during the month.) According to The Digital Reader post, if you've never heard of Archway Publishing, they're an expensive high pressure sales pitch publishing company. This post should be required reading for every writer, not just NaNoWriMo participants.

Panzer says, "Why is NaNoWriMo having anything to do with this company?"

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of hot cocoa and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Simon and Schuster

Simon and Schuster Slapped with eBook Royalty Class Action Lawsuit - Copylaw: Publishing and Entertainment Law

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Copylaw: Publishing and Entertainment Law site. A little digging around there and our inquisitive kitty reporter found a post about Simon and Schuster.

Whoever wins, this will be interesting.

According to the post there, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Simon and Schuster in New York state by Sheldon Blau, MD. The lawsuit against Simon and Schuster says the publisher misclassified "ebook transactions as 'sales' rather than 'licenses.'" The suit alleges that by classifying the transactions sales instead of licenses, Simon and Schuster is underpaying authors. Instead of paying 50 percent for licensing rights for each transaction, they are paying 25 percent for a sale for each transaction.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... The lawsuit makes sense to me, but what do I know. I'm just a little black kitty. I don't understand human laws, so don't quote me on anything."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g post. You'll need two cups of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Simon and Schuster

Simon & Schuster Giving Away Books Thru Hotels.com

I'm going to the vet today.

Today is National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day and Panzer has a vet appointment. So ... our big brave boy made a quick trip to the GalleyCAT site before we leave.

According to a post by Dianna Dilworth, Simon and Schuster will be giving free ebooks to travelers using the Hotels.com service. Travelers will be allowed to download one free ebook from a choice of seven. Authors included are Steven King, James Lee Burke, Philippa Gregory and four other bestselling authors. There will be certain restrictions.

Panzer says, "Do I get a free ebook for traveling to the vet today?"

To read the post, tootle over to Simon Schuster

Credits From Big 5 Settlement Being Dispensed

Finally. I almost gave up.

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, when he heard some cheering and clapping. Our big inquisitive kitty followed all the noise to the GalleyCAT site. There he found a post by Dianna Dilworth that explains all the celebration.

As part of the U.S. federal court ebook price-fixing case settlement in 2013, the Big 5 traditional publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins Macmillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster) agreed to make "credit" payments to purchasers of their ebooks. According to the post by Ms. Dilworth, these payments are now being dispensed to Amazon customers' accounts.

Panzer says, "It's about time."

Note: The post includes a link to the original Amazon post.

To read the post, tootle over to credits begin

From Wattpad to Simon and Schuster: A Novel's Success Story

That will buy a lot of kitty treats.

Panzer was out in the Catosphere today and stopped in at Publishers Weekly.

Our bad cat boy reporter (try saying that fast!) found a success story that novelists who use Wattpad, or are thinking about using it, need to read.

Anna Todd uploaded her three volume novel to Wattpad last year and has now gathered 800 million reads. Yes, you read that right. 800 million! The novel(s) were put out for auction and Simon and Schuster won with a six figure bid.

Panzer says, "You should consider uploading your work to Wattpad.  Your FREE work could make you a lot of money."

If you want to read the post, tootle over to Anna Todd Wattpad novels

Simon & Schuster vs B & N

It's just not worth the trip!

Panzer found another fight going on in the Catosphere. It just never settles down out there!

It seems Simon and Schuster authors are banned from having signings at B & N and according to William Kent Krueger he doesn't know why. Of course, everybody is convinced it will drive business to Amazon. (Yes, Amazon again.)

Panzer says, "Will this craziness never end? It's enough to make a cat stay home and lay in the sun."

If you want to read about the latest spat in the Catosphere, go to B & N ban by Simon and Schuster be sure and read the comments section too.