Matilda Battersby
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matildabattersby.bsky.social
Matilda Battersby
@matildabattersby.bsky.social
600 followers 910 following 87 posts
Writer and journalist. Former arts editor at The Independent, and editor of Popshot Quarterly. The Bookseller sometimes
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matildabattersby.bsky.social
My piece for @thebookseller.com today

www.thebookseller.com/news/openai-...
OpenAI copyright case reveals 'ease with which generative AI can devastate the market', says PA
A judge’s ruling that legal action by authors against OpenAI for copyright infringement can go ahead reveals “the ease with which generative AI can devastate the market,” according to the Publishers A...
www.thebookseller.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Moody vibes in Herts today
October 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
amydelaforce.bsky.social
Another kickass Bookseller piece from my friend @matildabattersby.bsky.social, as a UK follow-up to the equally excellent 'The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem' in The Walrus!

www.thebookseller.com/features/tra...
Tracks of my tears: where does the fault lie when books fail to hit?
Sales data metrics are useful tools to place books in the market, but when a title does not meet expectations, why do authors take most of the blame?
www.thebookseller.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
thebookseller.com
Digital-first publishers and self-published authors have told The Bookseller that book sales have been negatively impacted with “increased volatility in visibility” as a result of algorithm changes to the Amazon marketplace platform 👇 #BookSky
Amazon algorithm changes have led to ‘volatility in visibility’, warn indie authors
ebx.sh
October 15, 2025 at 9:01 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
I'm doing a reaction piece for @thebookseller.com to this excellent article thewalrus.ca/the-publishi... which suggests authors are unfairly blamed for their sales "track" -- if you want to share experiences, please email me at matildabattersby@gmail.com
The Publishing Industry Has a Gambling Problem | The Walrus
Companies keep betting on the next bestseller. Literature is poorer for it
thewalrus.ca
September 30, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
moyetteg.bsky.social
So delighted to have won the Shortlist Prize 2025 @firstnovelprize.bsky.social! A huge thank you to the amazing judges and The Literary Studio!📚🎉📚🎉
firstnovelprize.bsky.social First Novel Prize @firstnovelprize.bsky.social · Sep 15
✨ The wait is over ✨
The First Novel Prize 2025 winners have been announced! 🎉

Lots of ambition and originality in this year's entries. Our judges, Imogen Nelson & @rachelneely.bsky.social, had the tough task of choosing.

See who won 👇
www.firstnovel.co.uk/first-novel-...

#WritingCommunity
September 15, 2025 at 3:58 PM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
For today's story for @thebookseller.com I spoke to @samblakebooks.bsky.social about AI-generated fake novels on @awscloud.bsky.social www.thebookseller.com/news/author-...
Author Sam Blake urges 'better protections' from Amazon after AI rip-off books appear under her name
A bestselling author has called on Amazon to provide better protections against AI-generated “rip-offs” after “fake” books were marketed to readers under her name on the Kindle platform.
www.thebookseller.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:15 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Not such a helpful editorial assistant today
September 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Anyone else on here whose kid started secondary school for the first time today? I can’t seem to do any work or focus at all wondering how he’s getting on. It was funny sending him off dressed like a tiny banker, having taken half an hour to make his hair lie flat #bigschool #firstday
September 2, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
crtcltheology.bsky.social
Iiiinteresting. Bloomsbury publishing wants to push for licensing agreements with generative AI companies to use published works for training AI. They are offering their authors opt-IN, as well as 20% of their current royalties. (I still wouldn’t be able to buy a copy of my own book.) #academicsky
Kayko Driedger Hesslein, Recent years have seen the exponential growth of emerging technologies, most notably in the area of artificial intelligence, including the development of generative Al technologies. These emerging generative Al technologies, which rely for their development on access to high-quality data, have given rise to significant content licensing opportunities. As a publisher of prestigious original works in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, we are being approached by companies involved in the development and provision of generative Al technologies wishing to license our content. After careful consideration, our conclusion is that there are compelling reasons to engage with such Al-related licensing opportunities (Licensing Opportunities) for the reasons we explain below. As a valued partner, we wish to offer you the chance to opt-in to these Licensing Opportunities. How to Opt-In This communication will be followed within the next two weeks by a formal opt-in addendum your existing author agreement (Opt-In Addendum), which will allow for your electronic signature. The email will come from Bloomsbury via RightSignature. Please check your junk folder to ensure you do not miss this. Should you wish for your work to be considered for inclusion in these Licensing Opportunities, please sign the Opt-In Addendum as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after receipt. We will also follow up with you to ensure you have received our communication, response is important in ensuring your work is considered tor inciusion in Licensing Given the complexity and scale of our backlist, we are working our way through it in stages to identify works that are appropriate for such Licensing Opportunities, and your timely response is important in ensuring your work is considered for inclusion in Licensing Opportunities as and when they arise. If you have published more than one work with us, you may receive more than one Opt-In Addendum. Why Licensing Matters A strong and vibrant licensing ecosystem strengthens the opportunities and mitigates some of the risks of generative Al technologies by upholding copyright, fostering innovation, supporting the accuracy and integrity of academic research and providing additional income for rights holders. Alongside our intention that rights holders should help shape and benefit from this nascent licensing environment, we are working closely with publishing industry associations in advocating that governments should uphold existing copyright protections. A viable licensing ecosystem not only helps to counteract the unauthorised use of copyright-protected works in generative Al technologies but supports the case that the current copyright regime does not need to change. We also believe that licensing in this area is essential to the ethical development of the world's future knowledge ecology. To the extent future audiences are reliant on generative Al technologies for education, research and information discovery, it is important for society that the content which such technologies reference and learn from is diverse, accurate, and of high-quality. Our engagement in this space also affords us the opportunity to ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented in respect of the use of our and our authors' content. We take seriously our responsibility to serve the interests of our authors and the academic and research communities as a whole in line with our mission and values, and the following principles will inform our approach to any Licensing Opportunities, dependi… that the content which such technologies reference and learn from is diverse, accurate, and of high-quality. Our engagement in this space also affords us the opportunity to ensure that appropriate safeguards are implemented in respect of the use of our and our authors' content. We take seriously our responsibility to serve the interests of our authors and the academic and research communities as a whole in line with our mission and values, and the following principles will inform our approach to any Licensing Opportunities, depending on the specific 1. Fair remuneration to rights holders; 2. Securing licensed content and restricting text reproduction in outputs to specified amounts (e.g. number of characters or words); 3. Controlling the creation and distribution of new (derivative) works that would compete with the original work: 4. Respecting moral rights (attribution) as applicable under relevant laws. Payment For each work included in a licensing arrangement, you will receive a royalty payment of 20% of net receipts attributable to that work. This payment will be made in accordance with Bloomsbury's usual royalty accounting process and, if you are a co-author, in line with your contractual share under the relevant author agreement relating to the work. Further Information Please do visit Further Information for Authors which also sets out who to contact if you have questions. We will be updating these pages on an ongoing basis. We thank you in advance for your consideration and timely response. Bloomsbury ASP Licensing Team
August 7, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
thebookseller.com
Bloomsbury is “exploring” licensing some of its books to tech companies to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is offering authors the opportunity to opt in 👇
Bloomsbury 'exploring' AI licensing deals with opt-ins for authors
Bloomsbury is “exploring” licensing some of its books to tech companies to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is offering authors the opportunity to opt in.
ebx.sh
August 7, 2025 at 10:34 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Latest from me for @thebookseller.com >>
Bloomsbury 'exploring' AI licensing deals with opt-ins for authors
Bloomsbury 'exploring' AI licensing deals with opt-ins for authors
Bloomsbury is “exploring” licensing some of its books to tech companies to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is offering authors the opportunity to opt in.
www.thebookseller.com
August 7, 2025 at 10:33 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Not a surprising turn of events but still very sad for the Unbound/ Neem Tree authors and the remaining unpaid Unbound creditors. Report by Melina Spanoudi for @thebookseller.com
www.thebookseller.com/news/unbound...
Unbound successor Boundless 'goes into administration' after months of financial uncertainty
Boundless – the publishing company formed after its predecessor Unbound went into administration in March this year – along with its imprint Neem Tree Press have entered administration and ceased trad...
www.thebookseller.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
aguichart.bsky.social
Never enough
July 29, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
jdirwinbooks.bsky.social
Wouldn't like to be in their choux
July 16, 2025 at 9:41 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
"The wind in your hair, the hand on your arse." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Right, the underpants are off! It’s time I, Gregg Wallace, had my say | Marina Hyde
I am almost literally medically incapable of staying in my trousers. So who’s really to blame here – me or the BBC?
www.theguardian.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
chloehadj.bsky.social
I spent months on this investigation and gathered docs from the UK courts, Land Registry and a French local authority, to show that Raynor and Moth Winn's story is not as they claim. @tortoisemedia.bsky.social @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how the couple behind a bestseller le...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal it was far from the truth
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Big news week for those of you keeping an eye on AI and publishing - www.thebookseller.com/news/meta-an...
Meta and Anthropic's use of books to train AI is 'fair use', US court rules
The first two judgements in court cases over the use of books to train artificial intelligence (AI) have been made in the US this week with wins for tech giants Meta and Anthropic – but the potential ...
www.thebookseller.com
June 27, 2025 at 8:18 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Nice to see The New York Times pick up on my 8th Note story
TikTok’s Owner Wanted to Publish Books. Not Anymore.
www.nytimes.com
June 21, 2025 at 2:57 PM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Fulfilling her duties as a writing cat
June 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
jamesmcconnachie.bsky.social
"It’s as if [the publisher] expected the books to magically perform without any work on their part."
June 19, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
sdebar.bsky.social
This is interesting 👀

There's definitely more to this which I'm sure will unravel just like the Unbound/Boundless mess

Put authors before profit - simple.

www.thebookseller.com/news/tiktok-...
TikTok publisher 8th Note Press looks set to close as authors 'negotiate rights return'
A publishing business developed by the parent company of TikTok to cash in on the success of #BookTok appears to be closing just four months after it launched a print side to its e-books business – al...
www.thebookseller.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:56 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
A piece by me in today's @thebookseller.com | I really feel for all these authors!
www.thebookseller.com/news/tiktok-...
TikTok publisher 8th Note Press looks set to close as authors 'negotiate rights return'
A publishing business developed by the parent company of TikTok to cash in on the success of #BookTok appears to be closing just four months after it launched a print side to its e-books business – al...
www.thebookseller.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:29 AM
matildabattersby.bsky.social
Very excited to discover Zofia Nowak’s Book of Superior Detecting in Waterstones on Gower Street a week before it’s due to be published @piotrcieplak.bsky.social
June 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Matilda Battersby
kitdewaal.com
Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers' Prize now open for horror writers from underrepresented backgrounds. The winner will receive a publishing contract with a £10,000 advance, and representation by an agent

Link here www.penguin.co.uk/about/publis...

Please share :)
June 14, 2025 at 8:17 AM