For those whose works are included in the historic copyright infringement settlement, Bartz v. Anthropic, the official notice with your unique ID should be arriving near the end of November. Join Brenda Ulrich, an attorney with Archstone Law, and TAA Executive Director Kim Pawlak on Wednesday, December 10 from 2-3 p.m. ET, for a special webinar, “Bartz v. Anthropic: An Update on the Claims Process for Textbook & Academic Authors:.” Learn how your unique ID will help you when filing claims, as well as other updates on the claims process and TAA’s recommendations for textbook and academic authors whose works are included in the settlement.
2025 TAA Virtual Conference: A Resounding Success
We’re thrilled to share that the 2025 TAA Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring was a tremendous success — and it’s all thanks to our incredible attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff who made this event truly special.
Held virtually June 9-10, this year’s conference brought together textbook and academic authors from across the country for two days of learning, connection, and inspiration. With 147 participants and a lineup of close to two dozen expert-led sessions, the event offered something valuable for every stage of the author journey — from first-time writers to seasoned scholars.
An Interview with 2025 TAA Conference Keynote Speaker Gerald Friedland on the Future of AI and Textbook Publishing
What happens when a veteran mathematics textbook author and a leading AI scientist exchange ideas on the future of textbook publishing? In anticipation of his namesake keynote at TAA’s 2025 Virtual Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference, Michael Sullivan connected with Gerald Friedland—textbook author and AI Scientist at Amazon AWS—for a thoughtful conversation on artificial intelligence, authorship, and the evolving landscape of academic publishing. Friedland will expand on these ideas in his session, “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Textbook Publishing: Opportunities and Challenges,” on Friday, June 6, from 9–10 a.m. ET.
Authors Guild Releases Statement on AI Licensing for Authors
The Authors Guild released a statement on December 12, 2024 stating that they believe “it is crucial that authors, not publishers or tech companies, have control over the licensing of AI rights,” and that “Authors must be able to choose whether they want to allow their works to be used by AI and under what terms.”
The statement includes six sections, including:
- AI Training Is Not Covered Under Standard Publishing Agreement
- Subsidiary Rights Do Not Include AI Rights
- Authors Retain Copyright
- Publishers Must Seek Author Permission
- Publisher Compensation Depends on AI Licensing Role
- Authors Should Get Majority Share in AI Licensing Deals
Top Hat Announces Debut of ‘Higher Listenings’ Podcast
Top Hat announced the debut of Higher Listenings, a podcast “where we connect with leading thinkers, authors and educators shaping the future of learning.”
Their first three episodes feature interviews with Dr. José Antonio Bowen, author of “Teaching with AI,” Terrell Strayhorn, PhD, a world-renowned expert on student belonging, and Top Hat’s very own Dr. Bradley Cohen.
Top Hat’s Managing Director of Learning Solutions, Donna Battista, is a TAA Board Member. Subscribe
Busy TAA People: Wendi Zimmer Authoring New Book
TAA member Dr. Wendi Zimmer, PhD, a mindset expert, writing consultant, and Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University. is writing a book titled, The Force Continuum: How to Shift Your Mindset to Transform Your Life, which will contain simple strategies to be who you were made to be and develop your force.
“The Force Continuum is a series of four pillars (mindset, identity, energy, and habits) that when strengthened, allow us to apply the information we already know to believe in ourselves and take control of our lives,” said Zimmer. The book’s release date is January 10, 2025. Congratulations, Wendi!