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Matilda Battersby

@matildabattersby.bsky.social

Writer and journalist. Former arts editor at The Independent, and editor of Popshot Quarterly. The Bookseller sometimes

104 Posts681 Follower977 Folgt
Angry@angrystaffer.bsky.social · 3w ago

No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, this argument should be chilling. Trying to limit freedom of the press under the guise of national security is what tinpot dictators do. That’s not how a functioning democracy works.

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Amy de la Force, Author@amydelaforce.bsky.social · last yr.

Another kickass Bookseller piece from my friend @matildabattersby.bsky.social, as a UK follow-up to the equally excellent 'The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem' in The Walrus! www.thebookseller.com/features/tra...

Tracks of my tears: where does the fault lie when books fail to hit?

Sales data metrics are useful tools to place books in the market, but when a title does not meet expectations, why do authors take most of the blame?

thebookseller.com

Moyette Gibbons@moyetteg.bsky.social · last yr.

So delighted to have won the Shortlist Prize 2025 @firstnovelprize.bsky.social! A huge thank you to the amazing judges and The Literary Studio!📚🎉📚🎉

First Novel Prize@firstnovelprize.bsky.social · last yr.

✨ The wait is over ✨ The First Novel Prize 2025 winners have been announced! 🎉 Lots of ambition and originality in this year's entries. Our judges, Imogen Nelson & @rachelneely.bsky.social, had the tough task of choosing. See who won 👇 www.firstnovel.co.uk/first-novel-... #WritingCommunity

Matilda Battersby@matildabattersby.bsky.social · last yr.

For today's story for @thebookseller.com I spoke to @samblakebooks.bsky.social about AI-generated fake novels on @awscloud.bsky.social www.thebookseller.com/news/author-...

Author Sam Blake urges 'better protections' from Amazon after AI rip-off books appear under her name

A bestselling author has called on Amazon to provide better protections against AI-generated “rip-offs” after “fake” books were marketed to readers under her name on the Kindle platform.

thebookseller.com

Kayko Driedger Hesslein@crtcltheology.bsky.social · last yr.

Iiiinteresting. Bloomsbury publishing wants to push for licensing agreements with generative AI companies to use published works for training AI. They are offering their authors opt-IN, as well as 20% of their current royalties. (I still wouldn’t be able to buy a copy of my own book.) #academicsky

Kayko Driedger Hesslein, Recent years have seen the exponential growth of emerging technologies, most notably in the area of artificial intelligence, including the development of generative Al technologies. These emerging generative Al technologies, which rely for their development on access to high-quality data, have given rise to significant content licensing opportunities. As a publisher of prestigious original works in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, we are being approached by companies involved in the development and provision of generative Al technologies wishing to license our content. After careful consideration, our conclusion is that there are compelling reasons to engage with such Al-related licensing opportunities (Licensing Opportunities) for the reasons we explain below. As a valued partner, we wish to offer you the chance to opt-in to these Licensing Opportunities. How to Opt-In This communication will be followed within the next two weeks by a formal opt-in addendum your existing author agreement (Opt-In Addendum), which will allow for your electronic signature. The email will come from Bloomsbury via RightSignature. Please check your junk folder to ensure you do not miss this. Should you wish for your work to be considered for inclusion in these Licensing Opportunities, please sign the Opt-In Addendum as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after receipt. We will also follow up with you to ensure you have received our communication, response is important in ensuring your work is considered tor inciusion in Licensing Given the complexity and scale of our backlist, we are working our way through it in stages to identify works that are appropriate for such Licensing Opportunities, and your timely response is important in ensuring your work is considered for inclusion in Licensing Opportunities as and when they arise. If you have published more than one work with us, you may receive more than one Opt-In Addendum. Why Licensing Matters A strong and vibrant licensing ecosystem strengthens the opportunities and mitigates some of the risks of generative Al technologies by upholding copyright, fostering innovation, supporting the accuracy and integrity of academic research and providing additional income for rights holders. Alongside our intention that rights holders should help shape and benefit from this nascent licensing environment, we are working closely with publishing industry associations in advocating that governments should uphold existing copyright protections. A viable licensing ecosystem not only helps to counteract the unauthorised use of copyright-protected works in generative Al technologies but supports the case that the current copyright regime does not need to change. We also believe that licensing in this area is essential to the ethical development of the world's future knowledge ecology. To the extent future audiences are reliant on generative Al technologies for education, research and information discovery, it is important for society that the content which such technologies reference and learn from is diverse, accurate, and of high-quality. Our engagement in this space also affords us the opportunity to ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented in respect of the use of our and our authors' content. We take seriously our responsibility to serve the interests of our authors and the academic and research communities as a whole in line with our mission and values, and the following principles will inform our approach to any Licensing Opportunities, dependi… that the content which such technologies reference and learn from is diverse, accurate, and of high-quality. Our engagement in this space also affords us the opportunity to ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented in respect of the use of our and our authors' content. We take seriously our responsibility to serve the interests of our authors and the academic and research communities as a whole in line with our mission and values, and the following principles will inform our approach to any Licensing Opportunities, depending on the specific 1. Fair remuneration to rights holders; 2. Securing licensed content and restricting text reproduction in outputs to specified amounts (e.g. number of characters or words); 3. Controlling the creation and distribution of new (derivative) works that would compete with the original work: 4. Respecting moral rights (attribution) as applicable under relevant laws. Payment For each work included in a licensing arrangement, you will receive a royalty payment of 20% of net receipts attributable to that work. This payment will be made in accordance with Bloomsbury's usual royalty accounting process and, if you are a co-author, in line with your contractual share under the relevant author agreement relating to the work. Further Information Please do visit Further Information for Authors which also sets out who to contact if you have questions. We will be updating these pages on an ongoing basis. We thank you in advance for your consideration and timely response. Bloomsbury ASP Licensing Team
Matilda Battersby@matildabattersby.bsky.social · last yr.

Not a surprising turn of events but still very sad for the Unbound/ Neem Tree authors and the remaining unpaid Unbound creditors. Report by Melina Spanoudi for @thebookseller.com www.thebookseller.com/news/unbound...

Unbound successor Boundless 'goes into administration' after months of financial uncertainty

Boundless – the publishing company formed after its predecessor Unbound went into administration in March this year – along with its imprint Neem Tree Press have entered administration and ceased trad...

thebookseller.com