TAA Shares Results of Survey Seeking Authors’ Experiences Filing Claims in Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement

Between December 2025 and early January 2026, the Textbook & Academic Authors Association conducted a survey seeking authors’ experiences filing claims in the landmark Bartz v. Anthropic settlement. The majority of respondents 87% (52) said they were educational/textbook authors, 23% (14) said they were university press/academic authors, 8% (5) said they were trade authors, and 3% (2) were unsure which author type they were.

While a majority of respondents to the survey said they had already filed claims (31 of 60), almost the same number of respondents said they had not (29 of 60).

In Response to Motion Filed By TAA, Sage Agrees to Send Email Correcting Earlier Assertions as to Authors’ Share of Settlement Proceeds in Bartz v. Anthropic

On December 22, 2025, the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA) filed a motion to intervene in the Bartz v. Anthropic case, asking for an order to require curative notice and injunctive relief by Sage Publishing after the company sent a misleading email to its authors. In that email, Sage directed its authors to claim a specific percentage of the settlement and asserted that by not doing so, the authors could delay getting their payment. After negotiating with class attorneys and with Sage about sending a curative email that addresses the main concerns detailed by TAA in the motion, TAA agreed to withdraw the motion. Sage authors should receive the curative email this week.

TAA’s motion was filed after TAA Executive Director Kim Pawlak received an email from a TAA member on December 12 forwarding an email the author received from her publisher, Sage.

TAA Issues Statement Opposing the Dismissal of the Copyright Register

The Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA) Board has issued a statement opposing the dismissal of the Copyright Register. The Statement calls on the relevant authorities to reverse this decision and reinstate the Register without delay. The full text of the statement is below.

Statement by Textbook and Academic Authors Association Opposing the Dismissal of the Copyright Register

As authors of textbooks, scholarly works, and educational resources, we express deep concern over the abrupt and unexplained dismissal of the Copyright Register, Shira Perlmutter. This action threatens the integrity of the institution responsible for protecting the rights of those who create and disseminate knowledge for the public good.

TAA Joins AAC&U Public Statement on ‘Call for Constructive Engagement’

TAA Executive Director Kim Pawlak has signed a statement, recently released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), from numerous college and university presidents and leaders of scholarly societies in response to ongoing actions by the federal government affecting higher education.

The educational and nonprofit leaders were convened by AAC&U and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The statement, titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” marks the first time current presidents have spoken out collectively in large numbers about these issues. “We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” the statement says.

TAA Creates Policy on Creating Position Statements

The TAA Board approved a new policy on how the association develops position statements relevant to textbook and/or academic authors with the goal of addressing critical issues that affect its members.

The policy states that “Position statements must be aligned with the association’s mission to support textbook and academic authors in the creation of top-quality educational and scholarly works that stimulate the love of learning and foster the pursuit of knowledge.”

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.