Turning Copyright on Its Head: UK's AI Copyright Exception - Writer Beware (R)

Nobody ever listens to me.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Writer Beware (R) site. There with a little digging he discovered a post about a proposed change to the UK's copyright law and AI's use of copyrighted material.

 

As with all of her posts Victoria Strauss gives a complete explanation of the change and the ramifications of such a change. The post includes links to other information about the copyright issue.

 

Panzer says, "Here's this little kitty's suggestion for you: How about the new part of the copyright law says they can't use your work unless they ask you, you say "Yes", and they pay you for it. Oh. Wait. That's too simple."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to AI Copyright Exception

The Publishers Association on the UK's AI Consultation - Publishing Perspectives

It will be interesting to see what happens.

Today, Panzer stopped at the Publishing Perspectives site. There with a little digging in the posts he found one about the UK and the uses of AI.

Porter Anderson's post gives information on the coming talks on AI and copyright in the UK. The post includes links to other information about the issue.

 

 Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders if it will be like the AI copyright issues in the US?"

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) for today's reading snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to AI Consultation

Profits, Sales Up at WH Smith in Fiscal 2024 - Publishers Weekly

I'm not sure what it all means about US readers.

Panzer found this post at the Publishers Weekly site. It's a post about UK bookshops WH Smith.

 

According to the post by Neill Denny, WH Smith's sales are doing so well and profits are increasing so the company plans to open more bookstores in North America. The stores will primarily open in US airports.

 

Panzer says,"Hmm ... Interesting development. UK's WH Smith bookstore chain is coming to join UK company owned Barnes and Noble bookstore chain in the US books sales market."

 

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for your reading snack.

 

To read the post tootle over to WH Smith

London: Top Publishing Organizations on AI Protection - Publishing Perspectives

We need to watch what happens.

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Publishing Perspectives site. With just a tiny bit of digging in the posts he found one by Porter Anderson about AI's place in publishing.

The post describes what the UK's Publishers Association, the Society of Authors, the Association of Authors and Agents, and the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society have said in a statement explaining their position on the use of AI in publishing. The post includes the statement as well as links to other information on each group.

 

Panzer says, "Here's what this little kitty thinks it says: AI can't think, feel and create on its own like a human can. So, no it can't write books. Only humans can write books."

Note: This is a long post because it includes the statement. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to On AI Protection

UK and Australia:Spotify Opens 'Audiobooks in Premium' - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was shaken from his afternoon nap by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our brave kitty boy followed all the commotion to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about Spotify and audiobooks.

This will be interesting to watch.

According to Porter Anderson's post, Spotify has announced the opening of the company's 'Audiobooks in Premium' feature in the UK and Australia. Spotify Premium holders there will now have 15 hours of audiobook reading time each month. Spotify plans to have the feature available in the US later this year.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty wonders what Audible will do about this."

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

To read the post tootle over to Spotify Premium

Free Author Interview: Mick Herron and the Great British spy novel - A Stab in the Dark Podcast

I just need a little rest.

Today, Panzer is taking you to the A Stab in the Dark Podcast: A UKTV Original Crime Podcast.

The interview episode features author Mick Herron being interviewed by Mark Billingham. The episode is 40 minutes long including the intro. The interview was uploaded June 7, 2020. (Be advised: Mark Billingham uses a bad word or two during the interview.)

As always, the podcast episode is free for your listening.

 

 Enjoy!

 

To listen to the podcast tootle over to Mick Herron

Amazon Faces Fresh Clampdown With Germany and UK Security - Bloomberg

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the Bloomberg site. With a little digging in the posts there our inquisitive kitty boy found one about Amazon.

 

Let's see what they do.

According to the post by Stephanie Bodoni and Katharine Gemmell, Amazon is now being scrutinized by Germany and the UK for signs of anti-competitive behavior. Germany's Federal Cartel Office and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority join the EU's European Commission in investigating Amazon.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This should be interesting to watch what happens."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon and German Regulator

Bagging Daggers - The Rap Sheet

Today, Panzer went to The Rap Sheet site. There he found a post about the UK's Crime Writers' Association's (CWA) Dagger Awards.

How many of them have you read?

According to the post by J. Kingston Pierce, the Crime Writers' Association has announced the 2022 CWA Dagger Awards. There are ten Dagger categories which include nonfiction books, novels, debut novels, and short stories. The Rap Sheet post lists all the winners and the also nominated contenders. The post includes a link to a longer post at the Shots site which has more information about the awards.

 

Panzer says, "The CWA is really, really old. It was started in the mid-1950s!"

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to Dagger Awards

Publish KDP Paperbacks and Hardbacks in Sweden and Poland! - KDP Community

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to the KDP Community site. There he found a post that KDP authors' paperback and hardback books are now available for sale in Sweden and Poland.

 

Maybe I'll adjust the prices there.

According to the post, authors who chose Worldwide, UK or EU distribution have their books automatically made available in Amazon's Sweden and Poland markets. There are links in the post to make changes for your books distribution.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Two new marketplaces."

 

Note: This is a short post. You don't need to bring anything for today's reading. If you want to follow the links in the post and make changes to you books, you decide what to bring to eat and drink.

 

To read the post tootle over to Publish in Sweden and Poland

The UK's Welbeck Publishing Group To Publish in Australia, New Zealand - Publishing Perspectives

 Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere he suddenly heard clapping and cheering outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our traveling kitty pilot to the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all he found a post about the Welbeck Publishing Group.

 

It sounds interesting.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Welbeck Publishing Group announced the opening of a publishing subsidiary in Sydney, Australia. The company also announced Australia's Booktopia acquired twenty-five percent ownership in the new Australian publishing subsidiary. Plans are for the subsidiary to publish 50 books per year. The post includes links to other information about the companies.

 

Panzer says, "Hmm ... A whole new market for authors in Australia and New Zealand."

 

Note:This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large glass of lemonade, a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) and a brownie for today's reading. If you plan to follow the links in the post, you decide what extra treats to bring.

 

To read the post tootle over to Welbeck Publishing Group

CWA Dagger Award Winners 2021 - Mystery Fanfare

 Today Panzer made a stop at the Mystery Fanfare site. With a little digging in the posts our inquisitive kitty found one about the Crime Writers Association's Dagger Awards

 

Those daggers are sharp.

According to site owner Janet Rudolph's post, the Dagger Awards winners were announced July 1 by the UK's Crime Writers Association (CWA) There were eleven Daggers awarded for novels by authors both new and old, for short stories, for publishers, for translations, for libraries, and for lifetime achievement. The post includes a link to the CWA site where you can download the press release.

 

Panzer says, "It must have taken a lot of reading to get it down to one winner in each category."

 

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a glass of lemonade for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to CWA

June Is Flaming Murder

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today was a productive one.

 

Our inquisitive kitty boy discovered June is National Crime Reading Month in the UK. 

 

In honor of that there are crime reader and writer events planned throughout the month of June and on July 1.

 

They are:

June 3  - Reading Party with Greg Buchanan

June 5 - Crediton Literary Festival (with a crime focus)

June 15 - Crafting Compelling Coppers

June 24 - Crime Scenes

July 1 - Crime Writers Association Daggers Awards live presentation

 

All are online. Although they are free, you must register and have a ticket to attend. 

 

I'm going. Are you?

Go to the Events page, read through the descriptions and pick which you're interested in attending. On the left side of each event description is a button for more information. Clicking this will take you to another page. Scroll to the bottom of that page and you'll find registration information there.

To go to the Events page tootle over to Events

 

 

 

 

CMA launches merger investigation into PRH and S&S deal - The Bookseller

 Panzer was cleaning out the glove box in the Panzermobile when he found a wadded up post in there. Smoothing it out, he discovered it was a post from The Bookseller site about an investigation into the merger of book publishers PRH and S and S. A couple of months ago Panzer told you about the Authors Guild's requested investigation of the merger by the U.S. Department of Justice.

 

According to the post by Mark Chandler at The Bookseller site, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into the Penguin Random House (PRH) merger with Simon and Schuster (SS). This investigation would be similar to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation. Both would be looking to see if the merger would in any way stifle competition in the book publishing industry.

 

I'm not getting down.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... It looks like there will be one really big pit bull and a bunch of teacup poodles left."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large mug of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to merger investigation

To read Panzer's earlier post tootle over to Authors Guild 

BA calls for bookshops to be classified essential retailers - The Bookseller

When Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile today, he found a wadded up post under the passenger seat. Flattening it out, he discovered it was a post from The Bookseller site about re-opening bookstores during the UK's pandemic lockdowns. Panzer told you about French bookstores efforts to re-open during France's lockdown.

 

Books are essential.

According to the post by Mark Chandler, the UK's Booksellers Association (BA) has sent a letter to government officials requesting bookshops be allowed to re-open during the Covid-19 lockdown. While the BA and it's members agree the lockdown is necessary, the group feels bookshops and the books they sell are important to maintaining people's health. It's also important to maintain that part of the country's economy as well. Although bookshops are closed for the lockdown, other retailers (garden centres and food shops) are open and allowed to sell books. A copy of the letter is at the end of the post.

 

Panzer says, "Other countries consider bookstores essential retailers."

 

Note: This is a huge post. Bring a thermos of cocoa, three muffins, two sugar cookies (biscuits), and one brownie for today's reading.

 

To read the post tootle over to UK booksellers

To read Panzer's previous post about French bookstores, tootle over to  France

Announcing a New 'Green Book' Consortium: Canada, USA, UK - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer's evening nap was interrupted by clapping and cheering coming from the Catosphere. Hopping into the Panzermobile, our intrepid kitty pilot followed all the joyful noise to the Publishing Perspectives site. There he discovered a post about the new Green Book consortium.

 

According to Porter Anderson's post, a group comprised of Canadian, U.K. and U.S.A. supply chain organizations for the book publishing industry has formed the International Green Book Supply Chain. The group was formed in part to "make significant changes to reduce its overall environmental impact on the planet." The post includes a list of possible issues the group will address. The post also includes a section of interviews and statements from each country's representative of the member group.

 

Maybe ebooks only?

Panzer says, "We all love trees. but one day there won't be any trees left to make books."

 

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of tea and seven muffins for today's reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Green Book Consortium

 

 

 

 

It Took COVID Closures to Reveal Just How Much Libraries Do Beyond Lending Books - The Observer

Today Panzer was just minding his own cat business and tootling around in the Catosphere, when the Panzermobile was shaken by clapping and cheering coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our adventuresome kitty boy to the Observer site. There he found a post about U.S. and U.K. libraries.

 

According to the Observer post by Gillian Harvey, many people are not aware of all the available services provided by the U.S. and U.K. libraries.  With the Covid-19 lockdowns, today's libraries offer more than checking out physical books. Now library patrons can make use of numerous virtual services. These include online educational training for children and adults, recreational training such as learning to paint,  games for children, and more. This is an in depth post with lots of information.

 

Mom is taking a class there too.

Panzer says, "We already knew about this. We've been watching movies and TV shows Mom found at our local library's online site. Check out what your library has online."

 

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

 

To read the post tootle over to libraries

Nigel Roby Sells the UK's 'The Bookseller' to Stage Media Company - Publishing Perspectives

Mr. Roby really loved The Bookseller..

Today, Panzer made a quick trip to the Publishing Perspectives site. With a little digging in the posts, our speedy kitty found one about the sale of the UK's The Bookseller.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Nigel Roby has sold  The Bookseller  to Stage Media Company for an undisclosed amount. Under Nigel Roby's ten year ownership The Bookseller staged annual conferences and two book prize awards. All the company's operations and employees will be moved to the Stage Media Company's offices.

Panzer says, "This little kitty hopes the new owner doesn't make too many changes to The Bookseller."

Note: This is an elephantine humongous length post. Bring a gallon of tea, six muffins, 4 chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and 2 brownies for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to The Bookseller sale

An author bought his own book to get on bestseller lists. Is that fair? - The Guardian

Today as Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile, he discovered a post under the floor mat on the passenger side. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from The Guardian site about British author Mark Dawson.

According to the post by David Barnett, author Mark Dawson recently made the Sunday Times bestseller list in the UK. Mark Dawson explained how he managed this feat in his Self Publishing Show podcast. When he saw his sales numbers weren't high enough to get his new book into the top 10 at the Sunday Times, he devised a plan. He sent out an email to his U.S. readers asking if they would be interested in buying copies of his book directly from him. When he had 400 people interested, he bought 400 copies of his book. That added enough book sales to the already generated sales to put his book on the bestseller list at number 8. That's how his book became a bestseller. Apparently, in the UK there's no rule against an author buying his or her own book. Several links are included in the post, including one to the author's podcast.

With enough money you can buy anything.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... He was so proud of what he did, he made a podcast about it. Now other authors in the UK can do it to."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring another cup of tea and another muffin. (Don't tell anybody if you listen to his podcast and then do what he did.)

To read the post tootle over to bestseller lists

Ingram Touts Print-on-Demand Capacity Boost: UK, Australia, US - Publishing Perspectives

Today as Panzer entered the Catosphere his delicate little kitty ears were assailed by clapping and cheering. Following all the noise took him to the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all in the posts he found one about Ingram's Lightning Source.

Always have a backup plan.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, Ingram's Lightning Source has been taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic's spread in China has caused serious problems with the printing of books and, therefore, the distribution of books. Since books and their distribution are considered essential businesses during the pandemic, Ingram has begun business expansions in Australia, the UK and the US. In order to double its printing and shipping capabilities in Australia, the company is building a 50,000 square foot facility in Melbourne.The company is also continuing its upgrading of the facilities in the UK and the US. There are links to other information about Ingram's expansion included in the post.

Panzer says,  "That's a smart move on Ingram's part to expand printing locations now."

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

To read the post tootle over to Ingram

Coronavirus Update: The UK Scraps Its 20-percent VAT on Digital Books - Publishing Perspectives

Panzer was taking a well-deserved nap, when he was shaken from his kitty bed by clapping and cheering. Hopping in the Panzermobile, our intrepid traveling kitty headed into the Catosphere. Following all the jocularity took him to the Publishing Perspectives site. There with no digging at all he discovered a post about the UK's (United Kingdom) VAT was causing all the noise.

Woo Hoo! The tax is gone!

According to Porter Anderson's post, as of today (May 1) the UK's VAT (value added tax) on digital products is gone. This means ebooks, e-journals and e-newspapers are no longer subject to the 20 percent VAT. This is a windfall for the UK's citizens who are stuck at home because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and reading ebooks and e-newspapers is one of their only entertainments.

Panzer says, "Finally. Something good came out of this virus thingy."

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 UK digital books VAT