Mastodawn

"New #WriterBeware blog post: The Anthropic copyright settlement has writers re-assessing the importance of copyright registration and rights reversion. Should they be re-assessing the importance of ISBNs as well?"

#Anthropic #AnthropicClass #GenAILawsuits #Copyright @bookstodon

https://writerbeware.blog/2026/05/22/has-the-anthropic-settlement-changed-everything/

Has the Anthropic Settlement Changed Everything? - Writer Beware

Recent developments in the world of copyright have been making many writers rethink their attitudes toward copyright registration and reversion of publishing rights. Because many artificial intelligence companies used pirated books to train their large language models, there are now a growing number of copyright infringement class action lawsuits against them. While it is stillRead More

Writer Beware

ALLi Blog (unofficial)2d ago

News Podcast: AI-Powered Scams Target Writers; Audible Opens Pop-Up Bookstore; Anthropic Fairness Hearing Update https://selfpublishingadvice.org/podcast-ai-powered-scams-target-writers/ #copyrightregistration #Anthropicsettlement #AudibleStoryHouse #audiobookretail #WriterBeware #writerscams #Podcast

AI-Powered Scams Target Writers;

Dan Holloway covers AI-powered author scams, Audible's New York pop-up store, and the latest from the Anthropic settlement fairness hearing.

The Self-Publishing Advice Center

azteclady 4d ago

Via @victoriastrauss (on Bluesky):
"The Authors Guild has won a default judgment against deadbeat publisher TouchPoint Press, enabling 18 writers to get their rights back:
https://authorsguild.org/news/authors-guild-wins-default-judgment-against-touchpoint-press/

"My blog post about the troubles at TouchPoint Press, with many updates. A reminder that a publisher doesn't have to be an intentional fraud to damage writers and their careers."
https://writerbeware.blog/2023/06/30/small-press-storm-warnings-adelaide-books-propertius-press-touchpoint-press/

#Writing #Publishing #WriterBeware #AuthorsGuild @bookstodon

Authors Guild Wins Default Judgment Against TouchPoint Press - The Authors Guild

For any writer, few things are more devastating than a publisher who stops communicating, withholds royalties, and holds your work hostage. In early 2023, the Authors Guild received a large number of complaints about TouchPoint Press. All of the complaints […]

The Authors Guild

Dylan Madeley May 14

Personal milestone - received a cold call instead of an email scam, from a "Gee Cullen" in California asking about my latest book.

During the call I got the name of the site and looked it up. Key result below:

https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/1ffh1vn/digital_bookstore_coldcalled_me/

Victoria Strauss from Writer Beware then quote skeeted on another network to agree that this is most likely a scam, and to speculate on how they get people.

https://bsky.app/profile/victoriastrauss.com/post/3mltco3lyhc2k

#WriterBeware #BookStodon #AuthorsOfMastodon #WritingCommunity #AuthorCommunity #IndieAuthor

HMDPublishing Apr 26

Important alert for authors! Writer Beware is highlighting some current scams operating in the self-publishing space. Protect yourself by doing thorough research and seeking advice from trusted sources. What are some warning signs you look out for? #SelfPublishing #ScamAlert #WriterBeware #IndieAuthor

#SelfPublishing #ScamAlert #WriterBeware #IndieAuthor

HMDPublishing Apr 26

#SelfPublishing #ScamAlert #WriterBeware #IndieAuthor

pablolarah Apr 26

Watch Out For This Scam Impersonating Editors at Major Publishing Houses
by Victoria Strauss @victoriastrauss
at #WriterBeware
#Scam #PublishingScam

https://writerbeware.blog/2026/03/27/watch-out-for-this-scam-impersonating-editors-at-major-publishing-houses/

Angie Mangino Mar 27

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware is back with two important alerts for writers. First: the Harper's Bazaar short story contest has reinstated a copyright transfer clause in its 2026 guidelines — buried in fine print — that would strip winners of their rights. Second: the America Star Books website has reappeared, though it appears to be a spam operation rather than a revived publisher.
#WritingCommunity #Authors #Copyright #PublishingScams #WriterBeware
https://writerbeware.blog/2026/02/06/unhappy-returns-harpers-bazaar-short-story-contest-america-star-books/

Unhappy Returns: Harper's Bazaar Short Story Contest, America Star Books - Writer Beware

I always try to keep track of the stories I write, and to update my posts when new information comes to light. Sometimes, though, it’s worth re-visiting the stories themselves–as in the two cases below, where “bewares” that appeared to have resolved return, unhappily, for a second go-around (or seem to). Harper’s Bazaar Short StoryRead More

Writer Beware

Angie Mangino Mar 20

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware has documented a lawsuit filed by BattleTech and Shadowrun authors and their estates against the Topps Company, alleging that royalties for 2022, 2023, and 2024 have gone unpaid despite repeated demands. The case raises broader questions about work-for-hire contracts and what happens to authors' rights when intellectual property passes through multiple corporate owners.
#WritingCommunity #Publishing #Authors #WriterBeware #WorkForHire
https://writerbeware.blog/2026/02/20/authors-and-authors-estates-sue-the-topps-company-for-unpaid-royalties/

Authors and Authors' Estates Sue The Topps Company for Unpaid Royalties - Writer Beware

This is yet another Writer Beware post about allegations of royalties long left unpaid. But it’s also about the challenges of work-for-hire arrangements, and what can potentially go wrong when intellectual property repeatedly changes hands. The Complicated Background The BattleTech and Shadowrun franchises–which included both games and novels–were originally developed and published in the 1980sRead More

Writer Beware

Dylan Madeley Mar 9

Scam of the day. East London Book Club of Wanstead had probably never heard of me until I inquired with one of their admins to verify that this email was not really from them.

Just as well, because as my Amazon author bio states, I live "in Mimico on the shores of Lake Ontario". I would have no means of affording a flight on or before 23rd March to "drop in" on a book club meetup anywhere.

#WriterBeware #scam