HarperCollins confirmed in November 2024 that it had made a deal for an unnamed AI company to use selected nonfiction backlist books. Authors could opt in or decline. The reported offer was a three-year license paying $5,000 per title, divided equally between author and publisher—not a sale or transfer of the book’s ownership.
What the HarperCollins AI deal means for authors
The agreement created a separate, optional route for an AI company to use selected nonfiction books to train models. HarperCollins said the intended purpose was to improve model quality and performance. The publisher described the opportunity as a choice for authors: “Our authors have the choice to opt in to the agreement or pass on the opportunity,” its statement said, as reported by The Guardian.
That distinction matters: coverage described a limited-term license for specified uses, not a sale of the copyright or a blanket AI permission already built into every HarperCollins publishing contract. The Authors Guild and Society of Authors said the arrangement was separate from ordinary publishing rights.
How much were authors offered?
Publishers Weekly reported in 2024 that the license paid $5,000 per book over a three-year term: $2,500 to the author and $2,500 to HarperCollins. It reported that the author’s payment would not count against royalties. Author Josh Bernoff separately said he accepted the offer for Writing Without Bullshit and received the $2,500 author payment.
#1 Best Overall
- Meaningful Gift： This is an excellent option when unsure what to gift. It features a contemporary design, impactful language, and crisp printing, making it ideal for special occasions like birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Wider Usages： This elegant acrylic desk sign gift is both sophisticated and full of meaning. It is ideal for embellishing a variety of spaces, including offices, lounges, study areas, bedrooms, and more.
- Ideal measurements: 4 x 4 inches acrylic sign, paired with a wooden stand measuring 4 x 1.5 x 0.8 inches. size for enhancing any tabletop décor.
- Superior Quality: This desk sign is constructed from durable acrylic material that is resistant to damage, with vibrant and easily readable printing.
- Desk Sign: This desk decoration is fantastic. It can be positioned on any flat surface for showcasing. It can be placed not just on tables, but also on shelves, dressers, and other furniture items.
There is no verified final count of participating authors or books in the cited coverage. Bernoff said he did not know how many authors accepted, so early reports about how many were approached or involved should not be treated as a final participation figure.
What uses and safeguards were reported?
Bernoff’s account says the license covered training, fine-tuning, and testing. Sources also described output limits: no more than 200 consecutive words from a licensed book in one output, and no more than five percent of the book across outputs in a user session. The reported terms addressed commercial users’ attempts to infringe, scraping from specified piracy sources, and responses to reported infringement.
Rank #2
- Size: 5 inches*5 inches*1.3 inches
- Material: Made of wood, smooth and burr-free cutting, durable and lightweight. Clear printing, bright colors, safe and non-toxic, will not fade
- Display: Unique box shape design, can be hung on the wall or placed independently on the counter, table
- Occasion: Rustic design and suitable size make this wooden box suitable as home and office decoration. Can be placed on tables, shelves, bookshelves and more to add warmth and character to the space and reflect your personality
- Cool And Creative Writer Gift: Clear printing and meaningful text make this wooden box both a good decoration for your living space and as a Christmas birthday gift for writer, author, novelist, writing lover, copywriter
These are contractual terms as described by the sources, not independent proof that the controls work technically or are enforced effectively. The available accounts do not establish whether a book’s influence can be removed from a model that has already been trained on it.
Can the AI company keep using a model after three years?
According to Bernoff, the company would have to stop using the book for AI training when the three-year license ended, but could continue using a model already trained on it. The Society of Authors questioned the fairness and implications of that arrangement: a one-time payment could be followed by continued use of a model that benefited from the book. It also asked whether authors would share in revenue if outputs were monetized.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- Material: Made of transparent acrylic, it is sturdyand not easy to damage. The printing on thesurface is clearly visible.
The sources do not establish how the reported post-term provision would operate in practice, or whether a model could be made to forget or remove the book’s contribution. Authors considering a similar proposal should read the exact contract language on the license end date, existing models, new training, and any continuing use.
Why authors and rights groups disagree about the deal
The case for licensing
The Authors Guild welcomed explicit consent and a separate licensing arrangement, arguing that AI use should be handled through licensing rather than treated as fair use. Bernoff said he valued having a choice and a legitimate licensing channel, and considered $5,000 per book fair. That is his own assessment, not evidence that other authors accepted the offer.
Rank #4
- Inspirational Writer Daily Reminder: Features a powerful affirmation for authors, novelists, poets, and journalists—reminding them their words hold the power to touch hearts, transform minds, and shape history.
- Premium Acrylic Craftsmanship: 4x4x0.6 inch crystal-clear acrylic with polished edges; scratch-resistant and sturdy enough to double as a functional paperweight for desks, writing nooks, and home offices.
- Ideal Writer Gift: Perfect for birthdays, graduation, National Author’s Day, retirement, or “just because” appreciation for aspiring writers, published authors, and creative storytellers.
- Whimsical Author Decor: Bold black text with whimsical literary icons (quill, eye, bat, mushroom) complements cozy, creative, or minimalist writing spaces—fits seamlessly on writing desks, bookshelves, and studio workbenches.
- Gift-Ready Packaging: Arrives in scratch-resistant protective wrapping, making it a hassle-free, thoughtful present for the storyteller in your life.
Concerns about the split and disclosure
The Authors Guild argued that authors should receive most of the revenue after reasonable agent and administrative costs, saying authors typically own AI licensing rights under trade contracts. The Society of Authors also questioned the 50/50 division. Meanwhile, Publishers Weekly reported that the AI company was not identified in HarperCollins’ public statement and quoted agent Robert Gottlieb describing authors as uneasy, particularly about the buyer’s identity. It also reported that the Association of American Literary Agents urged agents to consider carefully how publishers should be paid to administer AI rights.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before accepting a similar offer
The HarperCollins AI licensing deal is not a template for every author or contract. Before agreeing to another proposal, an author may want to clarify these points with a qualified representative or lawyer:
Best Value
- Sign - 4 x 4 inches acrylic sign, 4 x 1.6 x 0.6 inches wooden stand.
- Rights and consent: Who controls the relevant AI rights, and is consent genuinely optional and specific to each title?
- Payment: What is the author’s net amount? Is the payment recoupable against royalties or other sums?
- Term and model use: When does the license end, and may models trained during the term continue to be used afterward?
- Permitted activity: Does the license allow training, fine-tuning, testing, or other uses? What limits apply to generated outputs?
- Protection and accountability: What attribution, warranties, anti-infringement protections, reporting, and enforcement obligations are included?
- Future revenue: Is there additional payment if the model or its outputs are commercialized?
The sources describe disputed issues and reported terms, but do not provide enough information to determine what an individual author should accept. The agreement’s central trade-off is clear: authors were offered a defined payment and an opt-in choice, while questions remained about the publisher’s share and the longer-term value of models trained on the books.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
