AI and the Assertion of Authors’ Rights Statement

As a publisher committed to supporting authors and protecting intellectual property, we are deeply concerned about the continued operation of websites such as Library Genesis (LibGen), which facilitate the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted works. While access to knowledge is a vital cause, it must not come at the expense of the rights and livelihoods of the individuals who create that knowledge. 

Authors invest years of research, effort, and creativity into their work, and publishers provide the essential infrastructure to edit, produce, and distribute books with quality and integrity. The unauthorized sharing and ingestion of books into large language models undermines this ecosystem, reducing authors’ earnings and disincentivizing future scholarship and creativity. 

Moreover, the erosion of copyright protections through widespread piracy weakens the sustainability of the publishing industry. Revenues generated from book sales not only compensate authors but also support the development of new publications, advancements in publishing technologies, and the preservation of editorial standards. Unchecked piracy threatens this entire process. 

We urge readers to support authors by accessing books through legal means, such as libraries, bookstores, and legitimate digital platforms that compensate creators fairly. Advocacy for open access and affordability in publishing is essential, but it must be pursued through ethical and legal channels that uphold authors’ rights and the long-term viability of literature and research. 

We remain committed to collaborating with authors, institutions, and policymakers to find balanced solutions that expand access to knowledge while ensuring that writers and publishers receive the recognition and remuneration they deserve. We will continue to work with bodies to defend our intellectual property and that of our artists and authors. 

For more information on authors' rights and legal resources in the Australia and New Zealand, please visit: 

• The Australian Society of Authors (ASA): www.asauthors.org.au

• The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc): authors.org.nz

• IP Australia: www.ipaustralia.gov.au

• The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ): www.iponz.govt.nz

• The Australian Publishers Association: www.publishers.asn.au

• The Publishers Association of New Zealand/Te Rau o Tākupu (PANZ): publishers.org.nz