Court Orders WeLib to Pay Publishers $19,500,000
Judge Victor Marrero entered a default judgment ordering WeLib to pay 13 publishers $19,500,000 for willful copyright infringement. The operators did not respond.
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Penguin Random House in The Publishing Times
The world's largest trade book publisher, owned by Bertelsmann. Official site: www.penguinrandomhouse.com
UK Publishers Withdraw Russell Brand's Books After Conviction
Pan Macmillan and Hodder & Stoughton have withdrawn Russell Brand's books from sale after his conviction. A Pan Macmillan statement says the process is under way.
FLASHBACK: Stephen King's warning, and the publishing numbers behind it
The 2022 Penguin Random House case exposed concentrated profits, unearned advances and unequal marketing budgets. Four years later, the distinctions still matter for authors.
New Zealand Indie Bookshops Missed the Release Day for Sarah J. Maas's New Novel
Chain stores had A Court of Splintered Harmony on launch day, but independent shops across the country waited up to two more days. Booksellers have written an open letter to Bloomsbury and Penguin Random House Distribution.
Miriam Toews, Kim Fu and Kyo Maclear Among the 2026 Governor General's Literary Awards Finalists
The Canada Council named 69 finalist books across seven categories in English and French for the awards' 90th year. The 14 winners, who get $25,000 each, will be named Nov. 12.
Lee Child Says Andrew Child Now Writes the Reacher Novels on His Own
Promoting Chain Reaction, the 31st Reacher novel, Lee Child told Collider he no longer takes part in writing the books and sees each manuscript when the publisher does.
IPA Urges Georgia to Rethink One-Textbook-Per-Subject Plan
By 2028, Georgian schools are set to use a single ministry-made textbook per subject instead of choosing among publishers' books. The IPA calls it a severe restriction on the freedom to publish.
Penguin Random House and United for Libraries Open 2027 Grants
Friends groups at U.S. rural and small libraries can apply from December 8, 2026, through January 25, 2027, for cash grants of $500 or $1,000. Twenty libraries will also receive $500 in Penguin Random House books.
Eleventh Circuit: Escambia Board Can Be Asked Why It Removed Books
The Eleventh Circuit held that Escambia County school board votes to remove specific books were administrative, so members can be deposed about those votes. Votes adopting the policies stay privileged.
Supreme Court Affirms BMG v. Vetter for Lack of a Quorum
On October 19 the Supreme Court said it lacks a quorum in BMG v. Vetter. Justices Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Barrett, and Jackson took no part, and the Fifth Circuit judgment is affirmed.
IPA Backs Penguin Random House Appeal Over Mexican Ruling Against Todo a la luz
A Mexican agency fined the publisher over a person's name and image in Karla de la Cuesta's investigative book. The IPA has filed a brief in the appeal.
Gruffalo Illustrator Axel Scheffler Weighs Legal Action Over ChatGPT Look-Alikes
He told Die Zeit he would rather sue alongside other artists. Two German children's publishers are already taking OpenAI to court in Munich.
Reading Agency Will Put Nearly 500,000 Quick Reads Books Into UK Prisons
Eleven short books chosen with prisoners and staff, from Lee Child, Lemn Sissay, AA Dhand and more, will go to every cell in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Romantic Novelists' Association Names Its 2026 Romance Industry Awards Shortlists
Seven categories honour the publishers, editors, agents, narrators, booksellers and librarians behind romantic fiction. Winners are named in London on November 4.
Frankfurt Book Fair Closes Its 78th Edition With 236,000 Visitors
Frankfurter Buchmesse reports 236,000 visitors from 137 countries for the 78th fair, and names Chile as guest of honour for 6–10 October 2027.
Media Coalition Wins the First IPA Freedom of Expression Defenders Award
The International Publishers Association gave its first Freedom of Expression Defenders Award to the Media Coalition, the U.S. group that sues to block book-restriction laws.
National Book Foundation Names 25 Finalists for the 2026 National Book Awards
The National Book Foundation named 25 Finalists across five categories for the 2026 National Book Awards. Winners will be announced November 18 in New York.
Amazon Ebook Antitrust Case: Judge Recommends a 30 Million-Buyer Class
A magistrate judge has recommended certifying a class of more than 30 million Amazon ebook buyers. A less-redacted version of his report was refiled in early October, and Amazon has objected.
German Publishers Open Frankfurt With an Appeal for AI Training Transparency
As Frankfurter Buchmesse opens, the Börsenverein published the Frankfurt Appeal, backed by 120 publishers, asking EU and German lawmakers to force AI firms to disclose training data.
Book Review: ‘The Eye of Goliath,’ by Diego Muzzio
Diego Muzzio's The Eye of Goliath, translated by Rahul Bery: a 1920s Edinburgh psychiatrist and a mute engineer. What the New York Times said.
Authors Guild Asks Publishers to Share More of the Anthropic Settlement
The Authors Guild wants publishers to drop claims on long out-of-print books and to pay authors when a house failed to register the copyright in time.
AI and the Publishing Industry: How Major Publishers Are Using and Fighting Artificial Intelligence in 2026
The intersection of artificial intelligence and commercial publishing has created a complex landscape where traditional houses act as both eager adopters and fi…
How to Get a Traditional Publishing Deal in 2026: Query Letters, Agents, and Advances
The publishing industry has undergone massive digital transformation over the last decade. While platforms like Amazon KDP
The State of Traditional Publishing in 2026: Big Five Mergers, Layoffs, and What Authors Need to Know
The traditional publishing ecosystem has undergone a radical structural transformation.
Celebrity Book Deals 2026: Why Publishers Pay Millions for Memoirs That May Not Sell
The traditional publishing landscape has undergone a radical transformation. When major houses like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster fo…
Big Five Publishers vs Amazon: How Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster Are Competing in 2026
The retail battlefield between the traditional publishing conglomerates—Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster—and Amazon has evolved past si…
Publishing's Gatekeepers Now Share the Gate: What the Output and Revenue Data Show
For generations, an author's path into print ran through a small number of decision-makers: agents, acquiring editors and the publishers that employed them.
Big Publishers' Senior Talent Tests New Models: What the Documented Moves Show
Large publishers have spent the past several years consolidating, restructuring and, at times, reducing staff. Over the same period, some of the industry's most senior figures have left those companies to build alternatives.
The Deluge of Drivel: Are Book Reviews Losing Their Way?
Reviews come from everywhere now, and so do fake reviews and misattributed books. The documented problems and the responses from platforms and regulators.
The Perils of Prizes: How Book Awards and Review Culture Can Mislead Readers
Research by Balázs Kovács and Amanda Sharkey found prizewinners' ratings fall after a win, and fake reviews and paid awards can also mislead. How to read these signals well.
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