News Roundups

News Roundup, February 24, 2023

News Roundup

February 24, 2023

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In this week’s edition: AI updates from across the publishing industry, library ebook bills may be back, the Internet Archive case inches forward, Idaho citizens move to close a local library, and more.

ChatGPT Launches Boom in AI-Written Ebooks on Amazon
Reuters
Would-be writers are using AI to create ebooks for self-publication in a matter of hours. More than 200 books in the Kindle store list ChatGPT as an author or co-author, with untold more not disclosing that they were written wholly or in part by AI.

Meridian Residents File Petition to Eliminate Library District
KTVB
An Idaho citizens group has moved to eliminate its local library district, claiming the library supports the “sexual indoctrination of minors” and provides “access to obscene and sexually explicit materials.”

With New Model Language, Library Ebook Bills Are Back
Publishers Weekly
A year after a court struck down Maryland’s mandatory ebook licensing law, advocates have unveiled new model legislation to regular ebook licensing terms without running afoul of copyright law.

The U.S. Copyright Office Says You Can’t Copyright Midjourney AI-Generated Images
The Verge
The copyright registration for a graphic novel illustrated with Midjourney has been revised to cover only the work’s human authored text, according to a letter from the U.S. Copyright Office to the registrant’s lawyer.

Oral Argument Set in Internet Archive Copyright Case
Publishers Weekly
On March 20, a federal judge will hear arguments for summary judgment in the case filed by four major publishers over the Internet Archive’s scanning and lending of books.

Underpaid and Overworked: A Look at Salaries and Benefits in Publishing
Book Riot
The harsh financial realities of working in the publishing industry mean many workers simply can’t afford to stay.

Legendary Sci-Fi Magazine Halts Submissions Amid Deluge of AI-Written Stories
Vice
Clarkesworld Magazine has closed all submissions as it works out how to deal with a flood of short stories written by ChatGPT. The publication’s editor said more than 500 people have been banned from submitting in February 2023, compared to around 20 a year ago.

15 Books by Black Authors You Should Read No Matter the Month
BuzzFeed News
As we near the end of Black History Month, BuzzFeed offers a list of timeless books by Black authors, ranging from literary fiction to memoir.