10,000 Authors Publish Empty Book to Protest AI Companies Using Their Work Without Permission

10,000 Authors Join Empty Book Protest Against AI

Around 10,000 writers have launched an unprecedented authors protest against AI companies using copyrighted work without permission or payment1

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. The protest centers on Don't Steal This Book, an intentionally empty book containing only a list of contributor names, distributed at the London Book Fair this week2

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. Among the prominent authors are Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro, bestselling novelist Philippa Gregory, Richard Osman, Slow Horses author Mick Herron, Noughts and Crosses writer Malorie Blackman, historian David Olusoga, and novelist Marian Keyes1

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The empty book protest carries a stark message on its back cover: "The UK government must not legalise book theft to benefit AI companies"2

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. The initiative was organized by Ed Newton-Rex, a composer and campaigner for protecting artists' copyright, who argues that the AI industry is "built on stolen work ... taken without permission or payment"1

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. Newton-Rex emphasized that "this is not a victimless crime - generative AI competes with the people whose work it is trained on, robbing them of their livelihoods"2

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UK Government Assessment Looms Over Copyright Debate

The timing of this protest is strategic. The UK government assessment on proposed changes to copyright law is due by March 18, just one week after the London Book Fair distribution1

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. Ministers must deliver both an economic impact assessment and a progress update on a consultation about the legal overhaul, against a backdrop of mounting anger among creative professionals about how AI firms are using their work1

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The main government proposal has triggered particular outrage across creative industries. It would allow AI companies using copyrighted work without the owner's permission unless the owner explicitly signals they want to opt out of the process1

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. This opt-out system has drawn fierce opposition from artists and writers who argue it fundamentally reverses the burden of protecting intellectual property. Elton John has been among the high-profile critics, calling the government "absolute losers" over the prospect of relaxed copyright law1

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Multiple Proposals on the Table for Copyright Regime

Beyond the controversial opt-out proposal, ministers have suggested three additional options: leaving the situation unchanged, requiring AI companies to seek licenses for using copyrighted material, or allowing AI firms to use copyrighted work with no opt-out for creative companies and individuals1

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. The government has also refused to rule out a copyright waiver for using material for "commercial research" purposes, which creative professionals fear could be exploited by AI models to take artists' work without permission1

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Malorie Blackman stated plainly: "It is not in any way unreasonable to expect AI companies to pay for the use of authors' books"1

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. The dontstealthisbook.com website warns: "If they don't, this is what we'll be left with: empty pages, writers without pay, and readers deprived of the next book they'll love"2

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Industry Responds With Licensing Initiative

Alongside the protest, publishers are launching their own solution. Publishers' Licensing Services, a non-profit industry body, is establishing a collective licensing initiative at the London Book Fair1

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. The scheme invites the sector to sign up in the expectation it will provide legal access to published works for AI training, potentially offering a middle ground between unrestricted use and complete prohibition.

The tension reflects a global struggle over how AI should access training data. AI requires vast amounts of data, including copyright-protected work taken from the open web, to develop tools such as chatbots and image generators1

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. This has triggered lawsuits on both sides of the Atlantic. Last year, Anthropic, developer of the Claude chatbot, agreed to pay $1.5bn to settle a class-action lawsuit by book authors who said the startup took pirated copies of their works to train its flagship product1

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A government spokesperson responded: "The government wants a copyright regime that values and protects human creativity, can be trusted, and unlocks innovation. We will continue to engage closely with the creative sector on this issue, and we will meet our commitment to update parliament by March 18th"1

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. The March 18 deadline will be closely watched by authors, publishers, and AI companies alike as it could reshape how AI development intersects with book theft concerns and the protection of creative work for years to come.