Human Authored FAQ

Human Authored is a registered certification mark owned by the Authors Guild that an author may use to indicate that their book was written by a human and not generated by AI. The author must register their book and agree to licensing terms attesting that the work contains no AI-generated text (other than a de minimis or trifling amount) before they may use the Human Authored certification mark. Each title receives its own registration number.

“Human Authored” means that the text of the work was fully authored by one or more human beings and not generated by GAI, except that a de minimis (e.g., very small or trifling) amount of text may be generated or modified by or with the use of generative AI, e.g., through the use of AI-powered spelling and grammar check applications or to create indices.

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

We 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.

Human Authored certification is available to all authors of books published in the United States through the Authors Guild. For books published in the United Kingdom, visit the Society of Authors.

Yes, if your book is published in the United States. The Authors Guild certifies books published in the United States regardless of where you live. For books published in the United Kingdom, visit the Society of Authors.

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.

An anthology must be registered using the same process as any other multi-author work. Each author must individually sign the agreement.

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 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 a significant amount of added or revised text, however (in the same cases that you would seek a new copyright registration).

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.

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.

Yes, unpublished writers, including those in the querying or pre-publication phase, may certify their works.

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.

Human Authored certification is currently only available for books, with plans to expand it to include articles and shorter works in the near future.

De minimis means that only a small or trifling amount of text may be generated or modified by or with the use of generative AI. We mirror the U.S. Copyright Office’s guidance in this respect; more than a de minimis amount of AI-generated text must be excluded from a copyright application and makes a work ineligible for Human Authored certification.

Using AI for outlining and brainstorming is acceptable only at a very high level, provided the AI use is merely preparatory and no actual AI-generated text appears in your work.

Although the Human Authored definition looks at the text only, use of AI to replace human creativity or in a way that affects your copyrightable expression, including to develop characters and plot, is incorporated in the text and falls outside of the spirit of Human Authored, even if no actual AI-generated text appears in your work.

The same de minimis criteria for writing applies to using AI for editing.

The use of common AI-powered grammar and spell-check tools that make suggestions or changes at the word level, such as those provided by MS Word, is acceptable and does not disqualify a work from certification. Using AI to rewrite full sentences or in any way that incorporates more than a de minimis amount of AI-generated text is not acceptable and makes the manuscript ineligible for Human Authored certification. To be clear, the Guild is not saying categorically that any AI-powered editing tool must not be used, but that the changes requested and incorporated must be trivial.

Another way of looking at it is that if your AI editing tool is adding text or appreciably changing text, rather than merely correcting errors, its edits are more than de minimis and the manuscript is ineligible for certification.

No, even though cover art is not part of the copyrighted or certified text, using the Human Authored certification mark on AI-generated cover art goes against the spirit of the program and the usage guidelines.

Yes, the Human Authored certification applies only to the body of the work, not to titles, which are not copyrightable as they are short phrases.

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

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 here and in the license agreement). Anyone who uses the certification mark without obtaining a license is liable for trademark infringement and 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, as well as infringement, and potentially 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 may have to pay significant damages. Any benefit that might come from misuse of the Human Authored mark will most certainly be offset by the risks.

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 also encourage authors and readers to search and verify usage against our public database and report any instances of misuse that they encounter to help us enforce the mark.

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 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.

If you’re an Authors Guild member, simply log in and visit the Human Authored portal to get started.

Not a member? Joining the Guild is the easiest way to sign up for Human Authored. You can also sign up without joining the Guild by creating an account here.

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. There is also a $10/title registration fee for non-members.

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

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 that complies with all important international standards. Learn more at the Veriff Trust Center.

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.

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.

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 Human Authored 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 which 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.

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

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.

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.

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

Yes. We will be making stickers available for purchase in the near future.

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

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.

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.