Introduction
The Authors Guild has launched a certification program named “Human Authored” to help authors verify that their books are predominantly human-written, distinguishing them from AI-generated works [1]. This initiative seeks to provide clarity in a market increasingly saturated with AI-produced content [1], ensuring that readers can identify the origin of the books they choose [1].
Description
The Authors Guild emphasizes the importance of transparency and the human connection in storytelling, asserting that readers deserve to know the origins of a text [3]. The certification will be registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office and will include a public database to verify a book’s human authorship [3]. To qualify for the Human Authored mark [3], a book must be primarily written by humans [1] [2], allowing for minimal AI-generated content [3], such as the use of grammar and spell-check applications. The certification process is designed to be straightforward [3], requiring authors to log into a portal [3], submit their book details [3], and sign a license agreement [3].
Currently, the certification is available only to Authors Guild members and applies to works authored by a single individual [1], with plans to expand to include collaborative works and non-Guild members in the future [3]. In addition to this initiative, the Authors Guild is actively involved in legal actions concerning the unauthorized use of copyrighted material for training AI models [3], including an ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI [3].
In related developments [2], the US Copyright Office has clarified that works created solely by generative AI cannot be copyrighted due to insufficient human control over the outputs [2]. While human-created works that incorporate AI elements can still be copyrighted [2], any AI-generated aspects will not receive protection under the new guidance [2], reflecting the intent of copyright law to safeguard original works created by individuals and reward their creative efforts [2].
Conclusion
The “Human Authored” certification program by the Authors Guild represents a significant step towards maintaining transparency and authenticity in the literary world. By distinguishing human-written works from AI-generated content, it reinforces the value of human creativity and storytelling. This initiative [2] [3], along with ongoing legal actions and clarifications from the US Copyright Office, underscores the evolving landscape of authorship and copyright in the age of artificial intelligence.
References
[1] https://www.theverge.com/news/602918/human-authored-book-certification-ai-authors-guild
[2] https://gizmodo.com/books-written-without-ai-can-now-receive-new-human-authored-certification-2000557010
[3] https://www.transparencycoalition.ai/news/new-human-authored-authenticity-mark-launched-by-authors-guild