People are getting paid for #publishing#AI-written #books, in an #author's name, when in fact the author did not, and knew nothing about this happening.
Then, when the author tries to do something about it to stop this obvious #abuse, they are told no.
@KristianHarstad Worth saying that this problem isn't strictly an AI one, it's a fundamtental Amazon store problem. One that Amazon has known about for years and failed to do anything to crack down on.
Yes, AI makes it somewhat easier to create new books, but even before that pirates simply ripped off an Authors existing books and resold them using the same Amazon flaw.
This also happens with physical goods of all kinds with fake knock-offs.
I don't know what the answer is, but I suspect lack of tough, effective Tech regulation is a big part of the reason Amazon can continue to get away with it.
Most politicians around the world seem permanently distracted by either the latest panic trend such as AI at the moment, or one of the longer term favourites like encryption backdoors vs. CSAM.
@KristianHarstad What I would tell Jane: I think actually something can be done but it requires a deep dive with amazon. One has to be very, very persistent with their customer service and complaints dept. Also, you can try to get in touch with Amazon's legal dept. They have one.This may take a deep dive too. Then say, "I'm going to have to go to court if this doesn't stop". They ARE liable at amazon, and they know it. Finally, pay a lawyer to serve a cease and desist. It would be worth it .
If nothing else, a Goodreads Librarian should be able to create a 2nd profile with the same name (people do share names!) and link the books to that profile instead. :-/
This is easily fixed on Goodreads -- people have the same name all the time, sot they've had a fix for at least 8 years.
Hubby's name is Roger Williams! Goodreads put in some hidden characters in his name so his books are only associated with him, other Roger Williams have their own author's page Like so https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14958993.Roger_Williams
GR librarians are busy, don't distract them by raising the issue that the other author of the same name is bad or AI. Just separate the pages!
@KristianHarstad
I wonder whether there might be an option to sue the person who published the fakes for libel, for suggesting that the putative author had actually written such drivel?
@simon_brooke@KristianHarstad
I read "being sold on Amazon" as them being the retailer rather than publisher, but frankly I'd suggest she goes after the lot as they're all libelling her.
@KristianHarstad One of the things authors like Friedman can do is send their readers to those fake book listings and 1-star review-bomb them into the ground.
@Ash_Crow@KristianHarstad I don't think so. But there is the chance that Amazon will remove the review if it's not a "verified purchase." 🫤
However, as someone else pointed out, leaving bad reviews on the fake books would drive down views of the author's actual books. Friedman is right, there is no simple solution here. 😡
@tdelmas@KristianHarstad this has nothing to do with gdpr. There is no privacy issue here. Fraud probably, or counterfeiting like with fake brand products being sold
@tdelmas@KristianHarstad a list of books per writer isn't really personal information right? It's public info, you can find that in any library. I don't know if GDPR applies to this.
@KristianHarstad Amazon wants to trash it's book selling business does it? Did they look at what Zoom did yesterday and thought "fuck the customers" as well?
"assumes a false identity and does any act in his or her assumed character with intent to defraud"
Publishing a book with someone else's name on it probably qualifies as assuming a false identity. And it's not hard to argue that (if you're a previously published author) that the creator of the books intended to defraud people thinking they were buying your work.
I look forward to watching the first court case brought on these grounds.
@fenarinarsa@KristianHarstad First thing to do it so file a complain for identity theft. Then send a copy of the complain to Amazon. It's not a copyright issue but an identity issue.
@suetanvil@KristianHarstad
Could be better off doing a false light lawsuit, where you sue for making false but not necessarily defamatory claims about someone.
Could also sue for improper use of likeness maybe?
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