Story perspectives

Authors Unite Against AI: Launch 'Human Authored' Logo

3/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Society of Authors (SoA) launched a 'Human Authored' logo to mark human-written books versus AI-generated works.
The scheme was unveiled at the London Book Fair.
A protest by 10,000 authors, including Richard Osman (author) and Kazuo Ishiguro (author), saw the release of Don’t Steal This Book.
The UK government is expected to assess copyright changes that could let AI companies use authors’ works without permission, threatening livelihoods.

History

Historical Context

The Copyright Act of 1911 established comprehensive copyright protections in the UK, consolidating previous laws and implementing the Berne Convention. As technology evolved, the Society of Authors, representing writers like Kazuo Ishiguro, now faces challenges from proposed changes that could allow AI companies to exploit these rights. A recent protest by 10,000 authors underscores the urgent need for updated copyright laws to protect creative livelihoods.

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Story summary

The Society of Authors (SoA) launched a 'Human Authored' logo to mark human-written books versus AI-generated works.
The scheme was unveiled at the London Book Fair.
A protest by 10,000 authors, including Richard Osman (author) and Kazuo Ishiguro (author), saw the release of Don’t Steal This Book.
The UK government is expected to assess copyright changes that could let AI companies use authors’ works without permission, threatening livelihoods.

1 / 2