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Nearly 10,000 authors publish empty book to protest against AI stealing their work

By News Desk
March 11, 2026
This representational picture shows a human-like robot waving at viewers. — AFP/File
This representational picture shows a human-like robot waving at viewers. — AFP/File

LONDON: Nearly 10,000 authors will publish an empty book to protest against the use of their work by tech companies to train AI models, according to The Daily Mail.

They include Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Mosse, Cecelia Ahern, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Sebastian Faulks and Kate Mosse.

It comes as analysis finds that Big Tech’s own evidence to support their claim that weakening copyright will boost growth is ‘fantasy economics’. It also follows reports that ministers are planning to delay making difficult decisions on AI copyright rules following a backlash by creatives.

The title – Don’t Steal This Book’ – is published by renowned authors Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Mosse, Cecelia Ahern, Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, Sebastian Faulks, Kate Mosse, Jeffrey Archer, Antony Beevor and Jeanette Winterson.

Musicians including Sir Elton John have previously released a blank album to protest against their work being stolen.

Ed Newton-Rex, a composer and the organiser of the campaign, said: ‘The AI industry is built on stolen work - the life’s work of writers and other creatives, taken without permission or payment.

‘This is not a victimless crime - generative AI competes with the people whose work it is trained on, robbing them of their livelihoods.

‘The government must protect the UK’s creatives, and refuse to legalise the theft of creative work by AI companies.’ The Daily Mail is campaigning for authors, publishers and musicians to be paid a fair price for their work and to have their copyright respected.

Tech giants want an exemption to copyright law for their AI machines to learn from creative works without paying or crediting their owners.

But the Government is reportedly planning to kick decisions on copyright down the road after a consultation did not yield a favoured option.