Human Authored FAQ

The following FAQs address a variety of common questions about the Authors Guild’s Human Authored certification and the certification process.

1. What is the purpose of the Human Authored certification?

Human Authored is a certification mark owned by the Authors Guild that may be used to indicate that a book was written by a human and not generated by AI. To qualify as “Human Authored” a literary work must have been fully authored by one or more human beings and not generated by AI, except for a de minimis amount (such as through the use of AI-powered spelling and grammar check applications). Use of generative AI to create a table of contents, indices, or other auxiliary parts of a book, or for researching, brainstorming, outlining, or any purposes other than generating text does not disqualify a work from being Human Authored.

2. What is the process for obtaining a Human Authored certification?

It is a simple online process to obtain a Human Authored certification in our Human Authored portal. (If you’re not an Authors Guild member, you need to create an account first.) Every author must have their identity verified before registering any book for certification. Authors Guild members are verified when they join the Authors Guild, but non-members must verify their identities through a third-party verification service to set up an account.

Once an author has created an account and verified their identity, they can register their books for certification on a title-by-title basis.

An author must execute the license agreement for each title, representing and warranting that the book is Human Authored—as defined above in FAQ #1 and in the License Agreement. Once an author has provided the required information for the book and signed the license agreement, they will be issued a downloadable version of the Human Authored certification mark and a unique registration number for the title. The registration number will be listed in a publicly accessible database so anyone can verify if it matches the title of the work, the author name(s), and other identifying information.

Publishers may agree to the terms and register their books in bulk but must be pre-approved. You can request publisher access to Human Authored soon.

3. Why do I have to be verified? Who is Veriff and why should I trust them with my ID?

To run a reliable, trustworthy program, we must ensure that the persons certifying that they are the authors of the works registered (and that the work is Human Authored) are in fact who they say they are. As registration is done online, we need to confirm user’s identities online. Veriff is a well-established, trusted individual identification system. We chose the most secure and reliable identity verifier we could. The company complies with all important international standards. Learn more at the Veriff Trust Center.

4. The Authors Guild issued an updated logo in March 2026. I obtained an earlier version of the certification mark first released in January 2025. Can I still use the old logo? Can I also use the new logo?

Yes, and yes. Users/licensees of the former mark can continue to use that logo but may also use the new logo released in March 2026.

5. Can I use the mark without the registration number?

Registering your work provides you with a registration number, but you do not always need to display the registration number in each use of the mark. We recommend including the registration number on your book’s copyright page if your publisher allows it, but it is not required. Once a registration is complete, you will be able to download an image that can be used on the copyright page with the registration number. We maintain a database of all registered works which anyone can use to look up a certification by registration number and verify it is an authorized use.

6. Can I just say “Human Authored” on the copyright page of my book with the registration number but without the logo?

The words “Human Authored” by themselves are not a protectible certification mark. The full circle logo and the small figure within it are the protected marks for enforcement purposes. A small, font-sized version of the logo’s character (preceding the words “Human Authored”) is available for use within ordinary text, such as on a copyright page. You can download both in the Human Authored portal once you have registered a title.

7. Where do I place the mark?

You may place the mark on the front or back cover of your book as well as on the copyright page. Our usage guidelines describe appropriate usage of the mark.

You may also use the mark in connection with marketing or selling a registered book, provided it is made clear that the mark applies only to the registered title.

8. Can I place a sticker on the back cover of a book that has already been printed?

Yes . We will be making stickers available for purchase in the near future. We understand that authors may wish to place the mark on physical copies of books they sell at readings, etc.

9. What are the size and format requirements for displaying the certification mark?

The guidelines for sizing and appearance of the certification mark can be found here.

10. What is the cost for certification?

Authors Guild members currently receive certification at no cost. Non-members are charged a $10/title fee to support the program’s sustainability and enforcement efforts. Publishers that want to certify all of their books at once will also be charged a fee, with quantity discounts. Depending on enforcement costs, these fees may change over time on a forward looking basis, but once a certification is obtained, it does not need to be registered again.

11. Why is the Authors Guild charging a fee for non-members?

The $10 fee covers:

1. Verification: There are out-of-pocket costs for verification of non-members. We need to verify that people are who they say they are. Authors Guild members are verified when they join, so this only applies to non-members.
2. Enforcement: The logo is a trademark certification mark that needs to be enforced to retain its trademark status. We need to have at least one staff person monitoring for fraudulent uses, and in the future we may also purchase AI detection software if we find one that is reliable. We also need to take legal action against any unauthorized uses, which will require sending cease and desist letters and working with retailers to get books using the mark fraudulently taken down; all of this will require staff time and resources. In some cases, we may have to bring lawsuits to enforce the mark against illegal uses. Fees will be used to create an account to offset these costs, which can easily run into the six figures.
3. Technology: We have incurred significant costs building and updating the online platform, and like any technology it will have ongoing updating and maintenance costs.

12. How will the Authors Guild prevent misuse of the certification mark? What are the consequences of fraudulent use?

When an author registers to certify their book, they must sign an agreement promising, representing and warranting that the work is Human Authored (as defined in the license agreement). Anyone who uses the certification mark without obtaining a license, is liable for trademark infringement, and also potentially for consumer fraud. In addition, if someone executes a license and uses the mark for a work for which some or all of the text was generated by AI, it is a breach of the license, infringement, and fraudulent representation to the consumer. In all cases, the Authors Guild will take appropriate enforcement action upon discovering any such uses, whether through monitoring or community reporting.

Fraudulent users could be forced to pay significant damages. Any benefit that might come from misuse of the Human Authored mark will most certainly be offset by the risks.

At some point in the future, if the Authors Guild become aware of one or more fair and reliable AI detection systems, we may adopt one and require registered works be vetted by the system.

13. Will you vet the books before issuing the mark? If not, what is to prevent scammers from using the mark?

As of now, we are not aware of any truly reliable way to test whether a work includes AI-generated material, though this may change in the future. We are using a self-certification system with enforcement against those who misuse our mark, as is typical, and have certain measures in place to prevent use by scammers, such as mandatory identity verification, limits on the number of new titles that can be registered in a year (exceptions will be made with express permission), the issuance of a unique registration number for each title, and a fee for use by non-members. We will also ask authors and readers to report any instances of misuse that they encounter. The unique registration number can be searched in our database. This will help us enforce the mark against scammers and others who use it without a license.

Some people have expressed concern that a self-certifying system is just based on the honor system and not trustable. But self-certification is a standard practice in the publishing industry and in formal legal agreements more broadly. Every author who signs a book deal makes representations and warranties to their publisher—for example, that the book is the author’s original creation, that any factual assertions are accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge, etc. No publisher runs a scanner or independently verifies these statements before signing the contract. They rely on the legal agreement and on the liability that comes with breaking it. No one would describe these legally enforceable instruments as merely an honor system.

As noted above, if the Authors Guild become aware of a fair and reliable AI detection system, we may adopt one in the future and require registered works be vetted by the system.

14. What happens if an author publishes a new, revised edition of a certified work?

If a new edition that contains a significant amount of new text is published, the author or publisher should obtain a new Human Authored certification.

15. How does the certification process handle collaborative works or works with multiple contributors?

Certification is available for both single-author and multi-author works. For multi-author works, each author must individually sign the agreement and, if they are not an Authors Guild member, pay the $10/title fee and verify their identity. Any author attempting to register a multi-author work will not be able to download the certification mark or receive a registration number until their co-author(s) have also completed the process.

16. How do I know if I am properly implementing the certification mark?

We have provided detailed guidelines to help authors correctly implement the certification mark across various formats and platforms.

17. Does the mark cover multiple formats and editions of a book?

Yes. Marks are issued per title and may be used for multiple editions and formats of a single title, provided the text is substantially the same. We ask for an ISBN or ASIN number (though it is not required) for identification purposes of the title only and can accept any ISBN or ASIN number that identifies the work. A single certification applies to any format (hardcover, paperback, ebook) of the same work, regardless of there being different ISBNs. A new certification and registration number should be obtained for new editions that have added or revised text, however.

Note that translations and audiobook narrations are separate copyrights that require separate certifications. The use of the Human Authored certification in connection with an audiobook or translation should make clear whether the mark relates to the underlying literary work, the audiobook or translation, or both.

18. How does the certification work for existing published works versus upcoming releases and other unpublished work?

The certification program is available for both previously published works and recent or upcoming releases. There is no time limitation on when a book was published, though authors may find it more relevant for works published in recent years after AI models became widely available. Authors may certify unpublished as well as published work.

19. How does the use of AI-powered editing tools affect certification eligibility?

The use of common AI-powered editing and writing assistance tools (such as grammar checkers and editing software) does not disqualify a work from certification. The requirement for the license is that no more than a de minimis amount of text may be generated or modified by AI, and any editorial modifications as a result of grammar or spelling AI tools will be considered de minimis. The use of AI to conduct a full edit a manuscript may or may not result in a de minimis or less amount of AI generated text. A good rule of thumb is to ask whether a human editor making the same changes would have a claim to copyright/co-authorship absent a contract (ignoring the cases we have all heard of where editors at publishing houses substantially rewrote books without claiming the copyright or credit due them). In cases of significant editing by AI, you may want to consult a copyright attorney. The Authors Guild’s legal staff cannot review entire manuscripts for AI use and copyrightability, but we can refer you to experienced attorneys who can do so.

20. Can I use AI for outlining and brainstorming and still be able to use the mark?

Yes, as long as the AI use is preparatory and no more than a de minimis amount of actual AI-generated text appears in your work.

21. Can I use AI to create a table of contents or an index and still be able to use the mark?

Yes, the Human Authored certification applies only to the body of the work.

22. Are unpublished books eligible for certification?

Yes, unpublished writers, including those in the querying or pre-publication phase, may certify their works.

23. What happens to certification if a book’s publishing status changes?

If a book’s publishing status changes (e.g., rights reversion, new publisher, new ISBN), the certification remains valid for the work. Authors should notify the program of such changes to maintain accurate records at humanauthored@authorsguild.org.

24. Will the certification system be updated from time to time to address new AI developments?

We will regularly review the certification criteria and guidelines to ensure they remain relevant as AI technology evolves, with updates implemented as needed to maintain the program’s integrity.

25. Labeling human-authored books seems backwards. Shouldn’t AI-generated books be the ones to be labeled?

We agree that books that contain significant AI generated text and other AI-generated content should be labeled. We have been fighting for legislation requiring disclosure of AI-generated content since 2023, as well as for online retailers to require such discloser, and we continue to do so. In the meantime, our members wanted to be able to take concrete action. The mark gives authors who wish to affirmatively distinguish their work as human-authored the ability to do so.

26. I am having trouble with the certification process? How can I get assistance?

You may email humanauthored@authorsguild.org if you need assistance.