News
Announcements from the press, and the book-world news we think is worth passing on.
21 items, page 1 of 2
Industry
UK publishing income reaches a record £7.4bn in 2025
Publishers Association figures show UK publishing income of £7.4bn in 2025, with digital audiobooks up 10% and print holding steady.
Industry
Government report sets aside AI training exception with opt-out
The UK government's report on copyright and AI says a broad exception with an opt-out is no longer its preferred approach.
Industry
National Year of Reading launches under the banner Go All In
The Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust have launched the National Year of Reading, with the campaign line Go All In.
Industry
UK print book sales slipped again in 2025, Nielsen reports
NielsenIQ BookScan data show UK print book spending down 0.5% and volume down 2.5% in 2025, with fiction again the strongest sector.
Industry
Public Lending Right rate rises to 12.40p per loan
The government will set the Public Lending Right rate at 12.40p per loan for the 2024/25 scheme year, up from 11.76p.
Industry
Court gives preliminary approval to $1.5bn Anthropic settlement with authors
A US judge has preliminarily approved a $1.5bn class settlement between Anthropic and authors over books downloaded from pirate libraries.
Industry
2026 named a National Year of Reading
The Education Secretary has announced a National Year of Reading for 2026, delivered with the National Literacy Trust.
Industry
European Accessibility Act requirements apply, including to ebooks
From 28 June 2025 the European Accessibility Act's requirements apply across the EU, and ebooks and e-commerce are among the services covered.
Industry
US court rules on AI training and pirated books in Bartz v. Anthropic
A US federal judge has held that training an AI model on lawfully bought books was fair use, but that keeping pirated copies was not.
Industry
Data (Use and Access) Act receives Royal Assent after AI copyright dispute
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 19 June 2025, with duties to report on copyright and AI rather than transparency rules.
Industry
Publishers Association figures: fiction and audiobooks drove growth in 2024
Publishers Association figures put UK publishing income at £7.2bn in 2024, with fiction passing £1bn and audiobook revenue up 31%.
Industry
Children's reading enjoyment at its lowest in 20 years, survey finds
National Literacy Trust research finds only 32.7% of 8 to 18-year-olds enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025, the lowest level in 20 years.
Industry
US Copyright Office publishes report on generative AI training
The US Copyright Office has released a pre-publication version of Part 3 of its AI report, on the use of copyright works to train generative AI.
Industry
WHSmith agrees sale of its high street shops to Modella Capital
WH Smith PLC has agreed to sell its UK high street business to Modella Capital, which plans to rebrand the shops as TGJones.
Industry
Copyright and AI consultation closes as newspapers campaign
The UK consultation on copyright and AI closed on 25 February 2025, the day most national newspapers ran the Make It Fair campaign on their front pages.
Industry
Independent bookshop numbers fall slightly in 2024
The Booksellers Association reports 1,052 independent bookshops in membership at the end of 2024, down from 1,063, with 45 new shops opening.
Industry
UK print book market dipped slightly in 2024, Nielsen data shows
NielsenIQ BookScan data show UK print book sales fell 0.6% in value and 1.7% in volume in 2024, while adult fiction grew.
Industry
Public Lending Right rate set at 11.76p per loan
The government has confirmed a Public Lending Right rate of 11.76p per loan for the 2023/24 scheme year, down from 13.69p.
Industry
UK government opens consultation on copyright and AI
The UK government has launched a consultation on copyright and artificial intelligence, including a proposed text and data mining exception with an opt-out.
Industry
EU General Product Safety Regulation now applies to books
The EU's General Product Safety Regulation applies from 13 December 2024, bringing new traceability and contact duties for books sold into the EU.