Industry News Round-Up Week of 8/19/24

Stay updated on the latest news, advancements, and changes that are shaping the textbook and academic authoring industry with our weekly Industry News Roundup. Have an item to share? Email Sierra.Pawlak@TAAonline.net.

Cengage Launches GenAI-Powered Student Assistant In Beta to Empower Students and Personalize Learning (August 21, 2024)

Clickbait Arguments in AI Lawsuits (Will Number 3 Shock You?) (August 15, 2024)

Why I Wrote an AI Transparency Statement for my Book, and Think Other Authors Should Too (April 4, 2024)

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2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring Call for Proposals Now Open

The TAA Conference Committee invites proposals for its 2025 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference, which will be held online June 6-7. Presenting at TAA’s 2025 Conference provides an opportunity to share your knowledge, experiences, and ideas with other textbook authors, academic authors, and industry professionals. The theme is “The Future is Now.” We welcome proposals from first-time and veteran presenters! The deadline for submitting a proposal is October 13, 2024.

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Busy TAA People: Brenda Ulrich to Box in Fundraising Event

TAA Board Secretary Brenda Urich, an intellectual property attorney with Archstone Law, was selected as one of 30 first-time boxers to participate in Haymakers for Hope’s 11th Annual Belles of the Brawl event on October 10 at the MGM Music Hall in Boston. Watch her promotional video.

“In the four months leading up to the fight I have been undertaking an intense training and fundraising journey which will prepare me to step in the ring in front of 1,500 people and literally fight to KO cancer!,” said Ulrich.

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Publishers Strike Data Deals with AI Companies: What It Means for Academic Authors

By Kimberly Becker

Recent developments in academic publishing have dramatically shifted the landscape for authors. Major publishers like Taylor & Francis and Wiley have forged partnerships with tech giants, aiming to leverage vast academic content repositories for AI development. This means that copyrighted materials from these publishers are now being used to train AI models – a practice I previously advised against.

As a presenter at the recent TAA conference, I discussed the ethical integration of AI in academic writing. However, these new partnerships have rendered some of my initial advice partially obsolete. In light of these changes, it’s crucial to revisit this topic and explore its implications for TAA members.

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TAA’s DEI Committee Reads Land and Labor Acknowledgement at 2024 Annual Conference

TAA’s DEI Committee (CDEI) Chair Laura Frost read a Land and Labor Acknowledgement at the opening session of its 2024 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference in Nashville, TN on June 21.

“As a member of both TAA’s Board and CDEI, I believe that incorporating land and labor acknowledgments into our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts is a critical step in recognizing the contributions and rights of marginalized groups,” said TAA DEI Committee Member Nicole Dillard. “Land acknowledgments honor the indigenous communities who have historically cared for the land, acknowledging their enduring connection and the injustices they have faced. This practice fosters cultural sensitivity and awareness among our members, promoting a more respectful and inclusive organizational culture. Similarly, labor acknowledgments are equally important as they recognize the diverse contributions of labor, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

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Plagiarism vs Copyright: What’s the Difference?

By Brenda Ulrich

When someone copies your work without your permission, is that plagiarism or copyright infringement?  These terms are often used interchangeably, but in fact they do not mean the same thing.

Plagiarism is passing off someone else’s ideas or work as your own, without proper credit. But there may be no direct copying involved – it could just be paraphrasing an idea from someone else’s publication.  The main offense is the failure to provide attribution. Plagiarism is not illegal, but it is certainly an offense in academia, often with severe academic consequences, e.g., a failing grade for a student, revocation of a job offer, and so forth.

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