AI Is Driving More Changes in Publishing — Now It’s KDP and the Copyright Office

Summary of Main Points (AI, Copyright, and Publishing Platform Rule Changes)

• Authors face shifting and sometimes unclear AI requirements. The creator of Forest City Publications (Laura Gayling) argues that authors are trying to understand what’s allowed when they use AI, but publishing institutions keep changing requirements and enforcement approaches—often without clear explanations or notice.

• The Copyright Office AI reporting question appears to have disappeared (practical implication). Gayling describes her experience filing a recent copyright application where a prior AI-related question was no longer present. She emphasizes she’s not claiming the Copyright Office changed its underlying published AI guidance, but suggests the change indicates either an administrative adjustment or an attempt to avoid an unworkable compliance process.

• Core problem: distinguishing “human authorship” from “AI assistance” is extremely difficult to audit. She explains that drawing a strict line between:

  • AI-generated text vs. human-edited/assisted text, and
  • AI brainstorming/structure/editing vs. actual “generation,” creates major evaluation challenges. She argues that authors attempting full transparency may still trigger burdensome review because the Copyright Office lacks straightforward ways to verify what portion was authored by humans.

• Strategic advice: don’t rely on “what the form asks,” rely on litigation readiness. Even if the application question is gone, she argues authors should still be prepared to defend their work under the AI copyright policy if challenged in federal court. In her view, the disappearance of the question reduces administrative intrusion, pushing the burden toward later dispute resolution rather than upfront disclosure.

• Amazon KDP changed title creation limits (volume restriction). Gayling highlights a significant reduction in Amazon’s publishing rules:

  • Previously referenced guidance allowed up to 10 new titles per week per format.
  • New paperback submission rules reportedly limit to two editions per format per week (about an 80% reduction).
  • She clarifies this doesn’t necessarily affect most independent authors; it mostly impacts high-volume “book farm” style production, though some legitimate high-volume publishers may also be constrained.

• Amazon’s stance isn’t an AI ban—disclosure is the key distinction. She notes Amazon did not ban AI-generated books. Instead, Amazon requires disclosure when publishers use AI for text/images/translations, but does not require disclosure of the fact that a work was created using AI in all cases. She cautions against assuming the KDP change is solely an anti-AI crackdown, arguing Amazon is more broadly trying to protect marketplace quality and customer experience amid generative AI proliferation.

• Other platforms and organizations take stricter positions than the Copyright Office, but differently.

  • Draft2Digital: She says it explicitly rejects content created solely by machines/automated processes and targets “book farms” and low-information-content works that may harm customer experience.
  • Authors Guild: Described as expanding standard contract terms to address AI rights and permissions—such as training rights, AI audiobook narration, AI translation/illustrations, publisher uploading manuscripts to commercial AI tools, and AI-assisted edits. The Guild also recommends strong limits on publisher AI editing (beyond basic grammar/spelling) and calls for author approval for certain AI uses.

• Contradictory industry behavior: restriction vs. enablement. While some groups tighten AI safeguards, platforms like Spotify for Authors reportedly enable audiobook creation using AI voice tools (e.g., ElevenLabs models), including free production capacity and non-exclusive distribution options (as described in the video). Gayling uses this to argue there is no single authority defining the “right” policy—rules are evolving in real time.

Main Framework / Strategy: “Choose, Hold on, Adapt”

1. Choose a position now based on what’s known today about AI’s impact on your work—without waiting for complete certainty.
2. Hold your course and don’t change your stance every time something new is said online or when minor changes occur.
3. Adapt only when evidence materially changes the basis of your decision, such as copyright rulings, significant legal developments, meaningful platform policy changes, or shifts in technology that undermine your assumptions.

She stresses this isn’t hypocrisy; it’s smart business practice under uncertainty.

Final Takeaway

The publishing industry will keep changing rapidly. Successful authors won’t be those who perfectly predict the future, but those who can keep working without needing constant permission or perfect certainty.

Presenters / Contributors

• Laura Gayling — Founder, Forest City Publications; host/commentator