Thousands of authors publish ‘empty’ book in protest over AI using their work

2026-03-10 · Source: AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian · Field: Legal & Regulatory — Intellectual Property & Patents, Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations, AI Legal & Ethical Issues · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

Approximately 10,000 authors, including notable figures like Kazuo Ishiguro and Philippa Gregory, have published an "empty" book titled "Don't Steal This Book" to protest AI companies' unauthorized use of their copyrighted work. The book, which contains only a list of the contributors' names, is being distributed at the London Book Fair on March 10, 2026. This action precedes a UK government deadline of March 18, 2026, to deliver an economic impact assessment and progress update on proposed copyright law changes. The protest highlights widespread anger among creative professionals regarding AI training on their work without permission or payment, with organizers like Ed Newton-Rex asserting the AI industry is "built on stolen work." Publishers are also launching an AI licensing initiative at the fair to provide legal access to published works.

Key takeaway

For intellectual property lawyers and content creators navigating AI's impact, this protest underscores the urgent need for clear licensing frameworks. You should closely monitor the UK government's upcoming copyright law assessment by March 18, 2026, as its proposals could significantly alter how AI companies acquire and use creative works. Consider engaging with industry bodies like Publishers' Licensing Services to understand emerging collective licensing schemes and protect your intellectual property.

Key insights

Authors protest AI's unauthorized use of copyrighted work, demanding payment and legal protection for creatives.

Principles

• AI training data requires explicit permission.
• Creative work theft undermines livelihoods.

Method

Authors published an "empty" book listing their names and distributed it at the London Book Fair to protest AI firms' use of their work without permission or payment, coinciding with a UK government copyright law review.

In practice

• Join collective licensing schemes.
• Advocate for copyright law reform.

Topics

• AI Copyright
• Generative AI
• Intellectual Property
• Author Protests
• UK Government Policy

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Director of AI/ML, Policy Maker, Legal Professional, AI Ethicist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian.