The article also provides a tool allowing publishers and authors to check if their work was included in the LibGen database Meta used for AI training.

In response to the Atlantic article, The Authors Guild issued the following statement: Meta’s Massive AI Training Book Heist: What Authors Need to Know .

The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) supports the Authors Guild in its response and stands firmly with the right of copyright owners to determine if, how, and when their work will be used—including whether it can be used to train AI systems. We strongly oppose Meta’s decision to use pirated content rather than engaging in ethical licensing agreements with authors and publishers.

IBPA also rejects the claims that obtaining consent to use copyrighted works for AI training is too costly, complex, and should be covered under fair use. The argument that fairly compensating authors and publishers would be too expensive for AI systems seems dubious when measured against the record revenue and profits of companies like Meta, which in 2024 reported, per Yahoo Finance, revenue of $164.5 billion -- and a profit of $62.4 billion. The claim that it would be too complex and time-consuming falls flat against the reality of numerous startups who are actively licensing books from publishers for this purpose, proving that ethical AI development is possible. And, IBPA strongly disagrees with the assertion that ingesting a work to train AI is covered by fair use.

What IBPA Members Can Do

Rather than duplicating the efforts of our industry allies, IBPA encourages our members to take action by:

• Search the LibGen database to check if their published books have been used without consent.
• Send a letter to Mark Zuckerberg and other AI executives using The Authors Guild’s template to formally protest the use of pirated books.
• Spread awareness by joining the collective call for AI companies to adopt ethical licensing practices.

The scale of protest matters. By standing together, independent publishers and authors can ensure their voices are heard and their rights respected. IBPA remains committed to advocating for the fair treatment of book creators in the evolving digital landscape.

(Bradenton, FL – November 16, 2022)—The Book Manufacturers' Institute (BMI) released the November results for its monthly survey on capacity and lead times for soft cover and hard cover books. As the book manufacturing landscape has changed recently, BMI put together the survey to get a better idea of what manufacturers were facing and what publishers should expect.

This month held fairly steady on capacities, but showed lead times continuing to decline. According to responses regarding hard cover books, the average manufacturer was running at 82% of their capacity, equal to October. The average lead time for completed hard cover books went down to 59 days from 62 days, based on 16 responses. For soft cover books, capacity usage dropped to 81% from 83%. The average lead time dropped to 38 days from 45 days, based on 20 responses.

Click image to enlarge.

About the Book Manufacturer’s Institute (BMI)

The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) is a not-for-profit trade organization that supports book manufacturing leaders in their work to drive the promotion, efficiency, and growth of book markets for readers and educators in North America.

Since 1933, BMI has provided tremendous value to its member companies and others associated with the book manufacturing industry. BMI member companies range from full-service book manufacturers to those specializing in the digital print market, specialty binderies, component printers, packagers, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of a variety of materials and services.

(Bradenton, FL – October 19, 2022)—The Book Manufacturers' Institute (BMI) released the October results for its monthly survey on capacity and lead times for soft cover and hard cover books. As the book manufacturing landscape has changed recently, BMI put together the survey to get a better idea of what manufacturers were facing and what publishers should expect.

This month showed a little bit of a respite with manufacturing capacities and lead times. According to responses regarding hard cover books, the average manufacturer was running at 82% of their capacity, down from 91%. The average lead time for completed hard cover books went down to 62 days from 84 days, based on 19 responses. For soft cover books, capacity usage dropped to 83% from 91%. The average lead time dropped 45 days from 61 days, based on 23 responses.

Click image to enlarge.

About the Book Manufacturer’s Institute (BMI)

The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) is a not-for-profit trade organization that supports book manufacturing leaders in their work to drive the promotion, efficiency, and growth of book markets for readers and educators in North America.

Since 1933, BMI has provided tremendous value to its member companies and others associated with the book manufacturing industry. BMI member companies range from full-service book manufacturers to those specializing in the digital print market, specialty binderies, component printers, packagers, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of a variety of materials and services.

The paper focuses on how the industry got to its current state, and where it is headed in the future

(Bradenton, FL - September 21, 2022)—The Book Manufacturers' Institute (BMI) just released a new white paper "2022 Trends in Book Manufacturing," which helps readers understand where the industry has been, and where it is headed in the future. As publishers and manufacturers both struggle to adapt to the new post-Covid era of the printed book, BMI wanted to produce a piece that would help level-set the conversation and help push the industry forward.

The report details the pivotal changes to the industry that occurred during the first two decades of the century. The rise of both digital printing and digital reading shifted the industry greatly. The pandemic caused a huge amount of disruption, and both publishers and printers are still adjusting to the changes. Challenges with inflation, paper, labor and capacity have affected everyone. The paper speaks to those challenges as well as how the industry looks to adapt in 2022 and beyond.

BMI Executive Director Matt Baehr said, "The last 12 months have been like no other time in the book industry. We are constantly being asked about how the industry ended up in this situation and where we see it going. This white paper was written to help give everyone a glimpse into both the past and future, and hopefully a better understanding of the industry as a whole."

The full white paper is available in the Resources section of the BMI website. All of BMI’s 2022 research is sponsored by HP, Canon, and Muller Martini.

About the Book Manufacturer’s Institute (BMI)

The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) is a not-for-profit trade organization that supports book manufacturing leaders in their work to drive the promotion, efficiency, and growth of book markets for readers and educators in North America.

Since 1933, BMI has provided tremendous value to its member companies and others associated with the book manufacturing industry. BMI member companies range from full-service book manufacturers to those specializing in the digital print market, specialty binderies, component printers, packagers, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of a variety of materials and services.

(Bradenton, FL - September 13, 2022)—The Book Manufacturers' Institute (BMI) released the September results for its monthly survey on capacity and lead times for soft cover and hard cover books. As demand has skyrocketed and supply chain woes continue to hamper all segments of manufacturing, BMI put together the survey to get a better idea of what manufacturers were facing and what publishers should expect.

This month showed lead times and capacities staying very flat from August to September. According to responses regarding hard cover books, the average manufacturer was running at 91% of their capacity, up from 90%. The average lead time for completed hard cover books went down 1 day to 84 days. For soft cover books, capacity usage went down slightly to 91% and the average lead time dropped one day as well to 61 days, based on 19 responses.

Click image above to enlarge.

About the Book Manufacturer’s Institute (BMI)

The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) is a not-for-profit trade organization that supports book manufacturing leaders in their work to drive the promotion, efficiency, and growth of book markets for readers and educators in North America.

Since 1933, BMI has provided tremendous value to its member companies and others associated with the book manufacturing industry. BMI member companies range from full-service book manufacturers to those specializing in the digital print market, specialty binderies, component printers, packagers, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of a variety of materials and services.

Has KDP terminated your publisher account because it says you don't have rights to content you can prove you have rights to?

(September 7, 2022 - Manhattan Beach, CA)—This week, the IBPA office heard from several reputable members with a version of the same story. Here are a couple of examples:

"KDP emailed me last week saying that one of my books includes copyright or trademark infringement. The book was written by my Dad and I have all the rights of the illustrator and still work with him on a daily basis. The book was published back in the CreateSpace days so it’s been on Amazon for years without an issue. I went through the book again and didn’t find anything that I felt could be considered any kind of infringement. I wrote back to ask what the issue was and KDP wrote back that they’re suspending my whole KDP account."

...or...

"Amazon terminated our KDP account Friday because they said we did not have the rights to a title that we absolutely do have the rights to."

IBPA shared the issue with Publishers Weekly with hopes they'll be able to investigate on behalf of indie publishers who are caught in this funnel unnecessarily. In the meantime, IBPA would like to invite all members who've experienced something similar to:

1. share your story on this post in the IBPA forums (be sure to subscribe to post updates after commenting)
   
2. attend next Thursday's IBPA Member Roundtable to discuss the issue with others via Zoom

The more information IBPA can gather on this issue, the more helpful we can be. If you're not comfortable sharing publicly via the online forum or during the IBPA Member Roundtable, you can email the IBPA office privately at info@ibpa-online.org. 

The IBPA office will update this space when we know more.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest independent publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit www.ibpa-online.org.

Copyright Alliance launches new Copyright Claims Board (CCB) resources, shares update on CCB cases, launches SCOOP Program

Following the June 16 launch of the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) within the U.S. Copyright Office, the Copyright Alliance has continued to make a wealth of new information and resources available on various aspects of the CCB—including through blogs, videos, case updates, media coverage, and more.

As a member of the Copyright Alliance, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) is pleased to be able to share these resources with its members.

Update on CCB Cases

By the end of August, 133 cases have been filed with the Copyright Claims Board, an increase of 56 from last month. Twenty seven of the cases are “smaller claims.” In at least 45 of the cases, the claimant is using legal counsel. At least 113 of the cases involve infringement claims, 16 involve Section 512(f) misrepresentation claims, and two involve non-infringement claims.

The eCCB docket currently shows that the works at issue in these cases are as follows: Pictorial Graphic & Sculpture (57 cases); Literary Works (20); Motion Picture and Audiovisual Works (21); Sound Recordings (13); Musical Works (seven); and some cases include claims for multiple works. Nine foreign resident(s) have filed claims. Fifteen claimants have filed multiple cases. Four cases have been dismissed for the following reasons: Due to Respondent’s Opt Out (Two); Due to Failure to Amend Noncompliant Claim (One); and Claimant Withdrawal and Dismissal of Claims (One).

Most significantly, the CCB has its first active proceeding, which was referred through a little-known provision in the CASE Act that allows a federal district court to send a case to the CCB if all the parties agree.

New CCB Resources Available

Be sure to check out the Copyright Alliance's CCB Explained webpage on a regular basis, as they are continually adding new resources. Recently, they added the following to help users more easily navigate the CCB:

• Fees to Bring or Defend a Case Before the CCB (Video and FAQs)
• Filing a Claim with the CCB (Videos parts one and two and FAQs)
• Notifying a Respondent About the Claims Filed Against Them (FAQs)

SCOOP Program Launches

The Copyright Alliance launched the Small Claims Opt-Out Protection (SCOOP) Program in August 2022, through which claimants of a CCB proceeding may be able to have their $40 initial filing fee reimbursed by the Copyright Alliance if their claims are dismissed due to a respondent opting out. Learn more about the SCOOP Program here.

For questions on any CCB-related information or resources, you are welcome to email the Copyright Alliance at info@copyrightalliance.org.

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the US, IBPA began advocating for the CASE Act in 2017. In mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly over 4,100 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its eventual enactment into law as part of Congress’s 2019 year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard.

The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process, so stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• Information & Resources about the New Copyright Claims Board (CCB) (06/14/22)
• CCB to Begin Operations on June 16 (06/02/22)
• U.S. Copyright Office Issues Final Rule for Initiating Copyright Claims Board (03/25/22)
• Copyright Office Issues Rule on Designation of Service Agents for CCB Proceedings (03/08/22)
• U.S. Copyright Office Extends Start Date for Copyright Claims Board Operations (12/01/21)
• U.S. Copyright Office Announces Appointments of Copyright Claims Board Officers (07/20/21)
• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act(01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,100 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

(Bradenton, FL - August 15, 2022)—The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) released the August results for its monthly survey on capacity and lead times for soft cover and hard cover books. As demand has skyrocketed and supply chain woes continue to hamper all segments of manufacturing, BMI put together the survey to get a better idea of what manufacturers were facing and what publishers should expect.

This month showed capacity and lead times all going up a bit. According to responses regarding hard cover books, the average manufacturer was running at 90% of their capacity, up from July’s 84%. The average lead time for completed hard cover books went up from 74 to 85 days. For soft cover books, capacity usage went up slightly to 92% and the average lead time went up from 56 days to 62 days, based on 16 responses.

Click image above to enlarge.

About the Book Manufacturer’s Institute (BMI)

The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) is a not-for-profit trade organization that supports book manufacturing leaders in their work to drive the promotion, efficiency, and growth of book markets for readers and educators in North America.

Since 1933, BMI has provided tremendous value to its member companies and others associated with the book manufacturing industry. BMI member companies range from full-service book manufacturers to those specializing in the digital print market, specialty binderies, component printers, packagers, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of a variety of materials and services.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - July 14, 2022)—Since the launch of the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) last month, the Copyright Alliance, in concert with a number of its members and partners, has made available a wealth of information and resources about the new CCB.

From event videos to FAQs to podcasts, please find much of this information below. And be sure to check out the Copyright Alliance's CCB Explained webpage for even more resources as they plan to add new information regularly.

• NPR’s The Indicator from Planet Money (podcast with Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid)

• Fees Associated with Bringing or Defending a Case Before the CCB (Copyright Academy CCB Series video with Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid and Copyright Policy Counsel Rachel Kim)

• 15 Things You Need to Know About the Copyright Office’s New Small Claims Court (Copyright Alliance Blog by CEO Keith Kupferschmid)

• Tech Intersect with Tonya Evans (podcast with Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid)

• What You Need To Know About The Copyright Claims Board (recording Academy Twitter Spaces event, hosted by Michael Lewan, Recording Academy, with Copyright Alliance VP of Legal Policy and Copyright Counsel Terrica Carrington)

• What the Launch of the Copyright Claims Board Means for Creators (Hudson Institute panel, with Terrica Carrington, Copyright Alliance; Maya Burchette, Copyright Claims Board; Michael R. Klipper, attorney; and Devlin Hartline, Hudson Institute, moderator)

• Copyright Claims Board: What Authors and Agents Should Know (Authors Guild panel, with Terrica Carrington, Copyright Alliance; Whitney Levandusky, Copyright Claims Board; Pamela Malpas, Association of American Literary Agents; and Mary Rasenberger, Authors Guild CEO, moderator)

Copyright Claims Board (CCB) FAQs

• CCB Basics
• Bringing a Claim Before the CCB
• Defending Against a Claim Before the CCB
• Opting Out of a Proceeding Before the CCB
• CCB Processes and Procedures
• Decisions by the CCB
• CCB Fees to Bring or Defend a Case
• May 16, 2022: CCB Panel Questions and Answers 

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the US, IBPA began advocating for the CASE Act in 2017. In mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly over 4,100 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its eventual enactment into law as part of Congress’s 2019 year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard. If you were one of the many to petition your legislators on behalf of the bill, please take some time to thank them using the easy online form letter prepared by the Copyright Alliance: https://p2a.co/21l3imn.

The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process, so stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• CCB to Begin Operations on June 16 (06/02/22)
• U.S. Copyright Office Issues Final Rule for Initiating Copyright Claims Board (03/25/22)
• Copyright Office Issues Rule on Designation of Service Agents for CCB Proceedings (03/08/22)
• U.S. Copyright Office Extends Start Date for Copyright Claims Board Operations (12/01/21)
• U.S. Copyright Office Announces Appointments of Copyright Claims Board Officers (07/20/21)
• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act(01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,100 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA discusses the CASE Act with the members of the Authors Guild on "Inside Independent Publishing with IBPA."

Today, June 2, 2022, the the U.S. Copyright Office announced that the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) will begin operations on June 16, 2022. Starting June 16, CCB participants will be able to register for the CCB’s electronic filing and case management system (eCCB), and file or opt out of a claim at the CCB. The CCB will also make its handbook materials available for guidance on how to navigate the CCB.

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the U.S., IBPA has been advocating for the CASE Act for more than two years. Beginning in mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly 3,700 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its enactment into law last month as part of Congress’s year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard. If you were one of the many to petition your legislators on behalf of the bill, please take some time to thank them using the easy online form letter prepared by the Copyright Alliance: https://p2a.co/21l3imn.

The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process, so stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• U.S. Copyright Office Issues Final Rule for Initiating Copyright Claims Board (03/25/22)
• Copyright Office Issues Rule on Designation of Service Agents for CCB Proceedings (03/08/22)
• U.S. Copyright Office Extends Start Date for Copyright Claims Board Operations (12/01/21)
• U.S. Copyright Office Announces Appointments of Copyright Claims Board Officers (07/20/21)
• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act (01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,600 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA discusses the CASE Act with the members of the Authors Guild on "Inside Independent Publishing with IBPA."

Today, March 25, the U.S. Copyright Office published a final rule, effective April 25, establishing procedures governing the initial stages of a Copyright Claims Board proceeding, including requirements regarding filing a claim, the Board's compliance review, service, notice of the claim, the respondent's opt-out election, responses, and counterclaims. Most notably, in response to concerns about the cost-prohibitive nature of a $100 upfront fee and overwhelming support for a tiered fee structure, the final rule includes a two-tiered fee system, with a first payment of $40 due upon filing and a second payment of $60 due once a proceeding becomes active.

Here are a few highlights (and here is the easier to read PDF):

• Replaced $100 upfront filing fee with tiered fee: $40/$60.
• The Office agrees that it is not appropriate to categorically exclude claims of infringement based upon particular theories of liability, and there is nothing in the statute that supports such exclusions.
• Includes a requirement that a claimant may not include with the service of the initial notice, claim, and related materials any additional substantive communications such as settlement demands, additional descriptions of the claim or the strength of the claim, or exhibits that were not filed as part of the claim (but such communication may occur separately).
• Provides that when an entity has designated a service agent, service of the initial notice and claim must be made on that service agent.
• Unless the parties agree to another method of service, discovery requests and responses shall be served on other parties by email if the format and size of the documents makes such service reasonably possible. When such service is not reasonably possible (e.g., due to size or format issues), the parties should attempt to agree to other arrangements.
• The Office has decided not to allow the rescission of opt-outs by respondents, which would result in the unilateral reinitiation of a CCB proceeding, but the Office is modifying the proposed rule to permit the same claim to be refiled following an opt-out where both parties have consented to the refiling.
• CCB will provide a list of common defenses in the form of a checklist, but respondents will be required to provide the basis for each defense they select as part of the response form.
• Claimants will not be able to opt out of counterclaims.

For additional information, please click here.

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the U.S., IBPA has been advocating for the CASE Act for more than two years. Beginning in mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly 3,700 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its enactment into law last month as part of Congress’s year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard. If you were one of the many to petition your legislators on behalf of the bill, please take some time to thank them using the easy online form letter prepared by the Copyright Alliance: https://p2a.co/21l3imn.

The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process, so stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• U.S. Copyright Office Extends Start Date for Copyright Claims Board Operations (12/01/21)
• U.S. Copyright Office Announces Appointments of Copyright Claims Board Officers (07/20/21)
• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act(01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,600 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

IBPA discusses the CASE Act with the members of the Authors Guild on "Inside Independent Publishing with IBPA."

Today (March 8, 2022), the U.S. Copyright Office published a final rule (effective April 7, 2022) on designation of agents for service of process in proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board (CCB). In response to comments received from the public, the Office made several adjustments in the final rule, including:

• It now permits “affiliated” business entities that are separate legal entities but are under direct or indirect common control to file a single service agent designation;
• The system is “being adapted to permit a combination of up 50 trade names and to enable affiliated entities to be included, indexed, and searchable based on a single designation”;
• It requires that invalid directory information be updated promptly.

In addition, the fee for designating a service agent will be set at $6, as initially proposed.

Tomorrow (March 9, 2022), the Office will be issuing another rule about libraries and archives opt out and class actions, and we’ll send another alert explaining it when it’s issued.

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the U.S., IBPA has been advocating for the CASE Act for more than two years. Beginning mid-2019, IBPA began working with the Copyright Alliance to actively ask its ver 4,000 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its enactment into law as part of Congress’s year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard.

In December 2021, IBPA officially joined the Copyright Alliance. The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process. Stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• U.S. Copyright Office Extends Start Date for Copyright Claims Board Operations (12/01/21)
• U.S. Copyright Office Announces Appointments of Copyright Claims Board Officers (07/20/21)
• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act (01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

In the episode titled “Making Hope a Reality for Bookstores and Booksellers: Stories from Binc,” French also shared how Binc came into existence, how it provides help and support to bookstore employees and comic retailers who face hardship, as well as the impact of the assistance on individuals, families, and the bookstore community as a whole.

Listen to the podcast here.

In 2021, Binc was IBPA's charity partner for its "Indie Titles for Your Consideration" bookstore catalog. For every page that members purchased in the catalog to promote their titles to bookstore buyers, IBPA donated $40 to Binc. Over $9,500 was raised for Binc through IBPA's Summer and Fall 2021 catalogs. Currently, reservations are underway for IBPA's Summer 2022 bookstore catalog which will benefit We Need Diverse Books and its minority internship grant program.

About Binc

Binc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to assisting booksellers in need. The Binc Foundation grew out of a wish of bookstore employees to establish a fund to help their colleagues experiencing unexpected financial crises. Binc is dedicated to assisting bookstore and comic store employees across the United States in their greatest time of need.

About Klopotek

Klopotek is the international market leader in the area of publishing software. Its software has been specifically designed for the publishing industry: unlike customized versions of generic ERP solutions, it has been built to meet the unique needs of this industry and combines detailed and specialized knowledge in this area with modern technology.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

(February 8, 2022 - San Diego, CA) -- Media Do International, the US-based subsidiary of Media Do Ltd., in Japan, today announced they have acquired all of the shares of Supadu Ltd. Mark Harvie-Watt, CEO and Co-Founder of Supadu Ltd., will remain on as CEO indefinitely.

Media Do International acquired Firebrand Technologies and NetGalley in January 2021, and Supadu has worked closely with Firebrand for the last five years.

Supadu CEO, Mark Harvie-Watt, said about the deal, "I am really excited to be working with Media Do, Firebrand and NetGalley. We have worked closely with these companies for a number of years and know how important they are for many of our customers. This deal will bring closer synergies, more integrated solutions, and provide our customers with an exciting road map for years to come."

"We are excited to bring Supadu into the Media Do family as part of the Firebrand Group,” says Daihei Shiohama, CEO of Media Do International. “We look forward to collaborating more closely with them going forward and to expand its business opportunities all around the world including Japan."

About MEDIA DO Group

The MEDIA DO Group aspires to make the greatest possible contributions to the growth of the overall publishing market by leveraging its cutting-edge technologies and distinctive position in the industry to promote the popularization of eBooks and other digital content. Media Do International is based in San Diego, California.

About Supadu Ltd

Supadu Ltd, based in the UK, was founded in 2010 and is the lead provider of website and e-commerce solutions for publishers. It has more than 250 global customers, primarily in Europe and the US. Supadu serves publishers of all sizes and across trade, academic and university press spaces. With the Supafolio metadata management platform at its core, Supadu uses book data to build beautiful websites with enhanced title visibility, advanced search functions and rich user experience. Supadu has a range of integrated e-commerce solutions and offers extensive support throughout the website build and beyond.

Combined Company will Publish and Distribute 800,000+ Titles from 250,000 Authors and Publishers

(February 8, 2022 - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK and PACIFIC GROVE, CA) -- Draft2Digital, LLC and Smashwords, Inc., two pioneers in ebook self-publishing, today announced that Draft2Digital will acquire Smashwords. The acquisition unites the industry’s two most innovative and author-friendly publishing platforms into one, enabling the new Draft2Digital to drive even greater success for authors, publishers, and sales partners.

Draft2Digital and Smashwords are key catalysts behind the dramatic rise of self-publishing over the last fourteen years. Their publishing platforms enable 250,000 authors and publishers around the world to publish, distribute, market, and manage over 800,000 ebooks and 11,000 print on demand paperback books.

The combined company will operate under the Draft2Digital name and will be headquartered in Oklahoma City. All Smashwords and Draft2Digital employees are expected to join the combination.

Kris Austin, co-founder and CEO of Draft2Digital, will lead the combined company as CEO. Mark Coker, founder and former CEO of Smashwords, will join the Draft2Digital management team as Chief Strategy Officer and board member.

Both companies are entering the acquisition profitable and debt-free.

"I’m pleased to welcome Smashwords authors, publishers, employees and partners to the D2D family," said Kris Austin. "Early in our discussions with Smashwords, we each immediately realized we can accomplish so much more for the indie author community by working together than working as competitors. The resources we once expended creating duplicative systems can now be redeployed to ramp up our R&D investments in next generation tools to empower authors and publishers."

"I’m thrilled to join forces with Draft2Digital," said Mark Coker. "Over the last decade, I’ve come to deeply admire Draft2Digital’s team, technology, and commitment to authors. Our shared business model is a key to our two companies’ success. We put authors first. By design, we only make money when our authors make money. This aligns our interests with the interests of our authors. Together we will lead the next chapter of the indie author revolution."

The combination is expected to yield significant benefits for authors, publishers, retail and library partners, and readers.

• Draft2Digital authors will gain access to the Smashwords Store and its myriad exclusive book marketing tools, including Smashwords Coupons, self-serve merchandising, Author Interviews, and the patent pending Smashwords Presales tool for book launches. Sales at the Smashwords Store have grown consecutively each of the last five years, with December 2021 sales up 20% over December 2020. Draft2Digital’s erotica authors can look forward to expanded distribution enabled by Smashwords’ proprietary erotica certification system, which allows retailers to carry erotic romance and mainstream erotica with greater confidence.

• Smashwords authors will gain access to new tools that simplify print and digital publishing and drive greater success. Among these tools are D2D Print, the company’s Print on Demand service for paperbacks (currently in beta, which authors can join at https://draft2digital.com/printbeta/); improved metadata management tools for better book discoverability at retailers; automated end-matter for series books; payment splitting for co-authors and collaborations; and more payment options, including direct bank deposits.

• Retailers and libraries served by the companies can expect greater title selection and unmatched merchandising recommendations. The new, merged company will offer retailers, subscription services, and libraries unprecedented data-driven insights into the world’s largest dedicated catalog of independently published books. This represents a unique and first-of-its-kind offering that Draft2Digital believes will improve the publishing industry.

• Customers of the Smashwords Store can look forward to an improved store experience and an increased selection of books from the many great authors and publishers distributed by Draft2Digital.

"This acquisition is great news for indie authors,” said Joanna Penn, host of the Creative Penn podcast and bestselling author who has followed each company since its founding. “Two of the industry’s strongest advocates for indie authors are combining their unique toolsets, technologies, and energy to do more for the indie community. There are exciting years ahead!"

What’s Coming Next

The acquisition is expected to close on March 1, 2022.

To minimize workflow disruption for authors, publishers, and sales partners, the two platforms will combine their systems in gradual and incremental steps.

Authors and publishers of both companies can continue utilizing their current platform of choice with the understanding that over time the authors and publishers of both companies will gain access to a common dashboard, common distribution outlets (including distribution to the Smashwords Store for current D2D authors), and an expanded suite of new and improved tools for book publishing, distribution, and marketing.

Draft2Digital will broadcast a live Q&A session for authors and publishers on Wednesday, February 9th, at Noon Central, with Kris Austin and Mark Coker, moderated by Kevin Tumlinson, Draft2Digital’s VP of Marketing & PR. Kris and Mark will share additional insight about their plans to support the indie publishing community and welcome questions from the audience.

Visit https://D2DLive.com for links and launch time, and to attend live on either Facebook or YouTube. The live broadcast will be recorded for future inclusion in the Draft2Digital podcast, Self Publishing Insiders, and will be available as a blog post at Draft2Digital.com/blog.

About Draft2Digital

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, Draft2Digital is the world’s leading publishing platform for self-published authors and independent presses. The company offers a broad suite of free and powerful automated and self-serve tools that authors and publishers can use to build and grow their publishing businesses. This includes tools to simplify ebook and print publishing, distribution, metadata management, and marketing. Following its acquisition of Smashwords, Draft2Digital will serve more than 250,000 authors and publishers that collectively publish over 800,000 books worldwide. Visit Draft2Digital at https://draft2digital.com or follow on Twitter @Draft2Digital.

About Smashwords, Inc.

Founded in 2008 by Mark Coker, Smashwords was an early pioneer in ebook self-publishing. The company’s platform made it possible for writers to professionally produce, publish, and distribute ebooks at no cost. As a distributor, Smashwords was the first to open multiple major retailers and library ebook services to self-published authors, and worked in partnership with sales partners and payment processors to establish systems, standards, and professional best practices to foster a thriving ecosystem of indie-friendly booksellers and libraries. As of December 31, 2021, Smashwords was publishing 590,000 ebooks supplied by 150,000 authors, publishers and literary agents. The company was originally headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif, and most recently based in Pacific Grove, Calif. Visit Smashwords at https://smashwords.com, or follow the store at @Smashwords.

IBPA members, and others, can now browse the 2021 BISAC Subject Codes list free of charge. Download options also available.

(New York, NY - January 4, 2022) — The Book Industry Study Group (BISG) has published the 2021 update to its book publishing subject codes, often referred to as BISAC Subject Codes. Maintained by BISG since 1995, Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) codes have become a core element of book product metadata, enabling systems across the supply chain to recognize and merchandise print and digital books in catalogs and websites, and library and retail systems.

IBPA members, and others, can browse the list online by subject, free of charge. To aquire about downloding an Excel, Word, or PDF file of the list, contact the BISG office at info@bisg.org.

This year’s update added 94 codes and modified 85 “literals” – the text description of each code -- with 3 inactivations across 30 of the 53 top-level sections. A total of 23 sections had at least one addition to the code list.

The importance of BISAC Subject Codes

BISAC Subject Codes are an industry-approved list of terms used to describe the content of a book. The headings are organized in 50+ main subject areas—for example, Business & Economics, Family & Relationships, Religion and Games—with more than 3,600 distinct terms.

Publishers assign a BISAC Subject Code (or more than one code) to each book so organizations across the publishing supply chain can quickly determine where the book should be shelved in a brick-and-mortar store, as well as the online database category - or categories - it should be placed in. In this way, BISAC Codes serve as a consistent syntax that’s understood by everyone across the industry.

BISAC Subject Codes provide:

• a common language for sales reporting
• an access point for online search
• a shelving guide for bricks-and-mortar stores 

Additions and changes from 2020 to 2021

Watch the webinar presentation above for an update on the additions and changes from 2020 to 2021. The presentation also includes an overview of the work of the BISG Subject Codes Committee and the process of updating the list each year.

For more information, refer to the BISG website, where you can view:

• Complete 2021 BISAC list, in a browsable HTML format
• Changes from the 2020 to the 2021 edition
• Tutorial and FAQs
• Appendix of inactivated codes

BISG thanks its Subject Codes Committee, chaired by Connie Harbison of Baker & Taylor, for its hard work throughout the year to prepare each new BISAC Subject Code list.

About the Book Industry Study Group (BISG)

BISG (www.bisg.org) is the book industry’s leading trade association for information, standards, and research, creating the connections and conversations that solve problems, advance new ideas, and more profitably bring published content to readers. Its broad membership includes trade, educational, professional, and scholarly publishers, as well as distributors, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and libraries.

In partnership with other industry associations, BISG maintains and implements standardized best practices, develops and shares leading-edge research and information, and fosters education through events and webinars that help our membership and the industry better understand market trends and issues.

IBPA discusses the CASE Act with the members of the Authors Guild on "Inside Independent Publishing with IBPA."

On November 30, the U.S. Copyright Office announced that the Register is exercising her authority to extend the date by which the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) will commence operations “to ensure that members of the public have sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations, and to allow for full implementation and testing of the new technological systems.” The notice says that the Office expects the CCB to begin operations “well before” the 180 day extension deadline (i.e., late June 2022), but a more specific date has not yet been shared.

More information is available here.

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the U.S., IBPA has been advocating for the CASE Act for more than two years. Beginning in mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly 3,700 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its enactment into law last month as part of Congress’s year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard. If you were one of the many to petition your legislators on behalf of the bill, please take some time to thank them using the easy online form letter prepared by the Copyright Alliance: https://p2a.co/21l3imn.

The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process, so stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• U.S. Copyright Office Extends Start Date for Copyright Claims Board Operations (07/20/21)
• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act(01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,600 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

(Manhattan Beach, CA - September 27, 2021) -- UPDATE -- According to various sources, lawyers for the Association of American Publishers (AAP) have asked Judge John G. Koeltl for a 3-month extension for discovery in their suit against the Internet Archive. Lawyers for the Internet Archive have agreed to the extension request.

Under the revised schedule proposed by the parties the next deadline for the end of fact discovery would be December 17, 2021, with all discovery to be completed by April 1, 2022.

• Click here to read more on PublishersWeekly.com.
• Click here to read more on Publishers Lunch.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

On September 7, IBPA received the following update from IngramSpark via email, shared here as a public service announcement for members.

Dear Publisher,

Amidst significant uncertainty in the global supply chain, IngramSpark is committed to supporting the book industry with the best possible service through the busy holiday season and into 2022. Over the past several months, the publishing industry has seen several cost increases for consumables, such as paper and packaging materials, as well as an increase in the cost of labor. Operating safely during the pandemic also has required additional resources and investments in manufacturing and distribution centers.

As a result of these industry-wide challenges, effective November 6th, 2021, IngramSpark is increasing print pricing as follows:

• US (United States) market: 6% increase
• UK (United Kingdom) & AU (Australia) markets: 3% increase

These changes do not apply to freight, handling, or title setup related fees.

View our updated rate card.

To help you assess any increases you may need to make to your retail pricing, we will be adding the future pricing view to our online pricing calculators. You should expect to see that view appear within the next two weeks. As a reminder, you can update your retail pricing through the IngramSpark website, with changes going into effect every Friday at 12:01 AM US Central Time.

We will also be identifying titles that will move into negative publisher compensation because of these price changes and will communicate that title information to you within the next two weeks.

We will continue to monitor and report on changes to the supply chain to ensure we provide the service you count on us to deliver.

Thank you for your continued business as we help your titles reach readers worldwide.

Your IngramSpark Team

Get the most out of your IBPA membership with your IngramSpark member benefit.

IBPA members receive discounted rates on IngramSpark and Lightning Source. Both options provide title visibility within ipage® — Ingram Content Group’s B2B database utilized by approximately 39,000 domestic and international booksellers and librarians for comprehensive title information, stock availability, and ordering. Watch the video below then click here for more information.

Sheridan, a strong supporter of IBPA members over the years, undergoes rebranding and growth.

(Brainerd, MN -- July 22, 2021) - CJK Group, Inc. has announced that it has rebranded three of its print facilities as Sheridan sites. Bang Printing is now Sheridan Minnesota, Hess Print Solutions is now Sheridan Ohio, and Webcrafters Inc. is now Sheridan Wisconsin.

With this rebranding, Sheridan now maintains eight printing locations in the US; the existing five being Sheridan Michigan, Sheridan Grand Rapids, Sheridan Kentucky, Sheridan New Hampshire, and Sheridan Pennsylvania. CJK Group Inc. is also parent company to KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd., a full-scale content services organization with locations in the US, India, and the UK.

Uniting all print facilities under one name and a centralized management structure affords all Sheridan print customers more flexibility, increased capacity, and a wide array of publishing services. The markets Sheridan serves include book, journal, magazine, catalog, and commercial print.

Said Paul Bozuwa, President of Sheridan, “We are excited to see the Sheridan brand become the unifying element for all of our print facilities, today and into the future. While we’ve enjoyed internal synergies in processes, structures, and core values among all CJK Group facilities, the adoption of Sheridan as company name for all print sites signifies an outward unification to the marketplace, underpinned by the Sheridan promise of exceptional service and the highest quality print products.”

Chris Kurtzman, founder and CEO of CJK Group Inc. further commented: “The Sheridan brand has always been synonymous with gold standard service and quality in all of the markets we serve. That reputation certainly befits our sites in Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin—now the latest additions to the Sheridan family of printing facilities.”

CJK Group Inc. represents one of the largest printing and publishing services organizations in the country, continuing to grow both organically and through acquisitions. At the core of the CJK Group strategy is investment in employees, equipment, technologies, and thoughtful acquisitions that mirror the same principles and values that all CJK Group companies possess.

About CJK Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Brainerd, MN, CJK Group, Inc. is an international portfolio of print and publishing service companies, with a wide array of solutions from full-service book, magazine, journal, catalog, and commercial print to content services such as composition, editorial, eLearning platforms, and online hosting.

CJK Group’s Sheridan print facilities are located in Brainerd, MN, Brimfield, OH, Chelsea, MI, Grand Rapids, MI, Hanover, NH, Hanover, PA, Madison, WI, and Versailles, KY. CJK Group’s KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. content service facilities are located in Boston, MA, Richmond, VA, and Waterbury, VT in the US; Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Noida in India; and London in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.cjkgroup.com.

Listen to IBPA podcast host Peter Goodman discuss the CASE Act with the Authors Guild's Mary Rasenberger and Cheryl L. Davis on "Inside Independent Publishing with IBPA."

Today, July 20, the U.S. Copyright Office announced the appointments of David Carson, Monica P. McCabe, and Brad Newberg to serve as the first Copyright Claims Board Officers on the newly established Copyright Claims Board (CCB), effective July 6, September 13, and August 16, respectively.

Since 2014, Carson has headed the Copyright Policy Team in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. His previous experience also includes: Executive Vice President for Global Legal Policy at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry; General Counsel and Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs at the Copyright Office; and leading copyright law firms in New York City and Los Angeles.

McCabe is described as a veteran copyright litigator with over three decades of experience, representing both users and copyright owners. Since 2018, McCabe has chaired the intellectual property department at Phillips Nizer LLP. Her previous experience also includes serving on numerous arbitration panels, including for the International Trademark Association, the Southern District of New York, and the New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division.

Since 2014, Newberg has led the copyright and trademark litigation practice at McGuire Woods, and has more than 20 years of experience serving as lead counsel in well over a hundred copyright matters and appearing before federal trial and appellate courts across the country.

For additional information about the Copyright Claims Board, please click here.

The Role of IBPA

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the U.S., IBPA has been advocating for the CASE Act for more than two years. Beginning in mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly 3,700 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

In October 2019, the CASE Act passed in the House of Representatives 410-6, a huge bipartisan win, but later stalled in the Senate. Its enactment into law last month as part of Congress’s year-end appropriations package is a testament to the advocacy of IBPA members and dozens of other creator organizations who worked together to make their voices heard. If you were one of the many to petition your legislators on behalf of the bill, please take some time to thank them using the easy online form letter prepared by the Copyright Alliance: https://p2a.co/21l3imn.

The IBPA Advocacy Committee will continue to share educational materials and hold events to explain the small claims process, so stayed tuned for more information throughout the year.

SEE ALSO:

• Congress Passes CASE Act to Create Small Claims Tribunal in the Copyright Office (01/11/21)
• Possible CASE Act Movement Over the Next Several Weeks: IBPA Members Should Contact Senators Today (11/09/20)
• IBPA Launches New Social Media Campaign Messages in Support of the CASE Act (01/05/20)
• IBPA Sends CASE Act Letters of Support to Sen. McConnell and Sen. Schumer (11/06/19)
• IBPA Applauds Passing of the CASE Act, H.R. 2426 in the U.S. House of Representatives (10/24/19)

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,600 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Rudy Shur is the publisher of Square One Publishers and a member of the IBPA Board of Directors and the IBPA Advocacy Committee.

Those among us involved in getting books published discover all too quickly just how many untrustworthy players there are out there poised to take advantage of people’s relative lack of experience in this business. Having lectured on the topic of how to steer clear of these so-called “professional” service providers that promise much more than they can possibly deliver, I thought I had seen it all. I thought wrong—very wrong.

After a near-year of pandemic isolation, it was again time for my publishing house to begin to copyright our newest batch of titles. In the past, my editorial assistant had downloaded the appropriate forms from the U.S. Copyright Office website, filled them out accordingly and had a company check made out in the due amount for the mandatory forms. The forms, the check, and two copies of each respective title were then sent off to the appropriate address in Washington, DC. A few months later, we would receive our signed and authorized copyright certificates.

There was never a problem.

This time, with most everyone still at home amid continued COVID-19 chaos, the process would be different. My senior editor volunteered to copyright our sixteen new titles. This editor visited the website to copyright our titles, but was instead led to an official-looking site for federal copyright and trademark registration.

Thinking this was the standard Library of Congress online site, she filled out all of the forms. There was no mention that this was in fact a “third party service,” which would act as an intermediary to get books copyrighted. What should have cost us $1,040 dollars wound up costing (wait for it) $2,754 dollars. I only learned about this after we received our American Express bill, and it was definitely a shock. After calling the Library of Congress technical copyright line (which, listed as 202-707-3002, is a good number for us all to have handy), I was told that we had mistakenly—and unknowingly—gone through a third party service on this transaction.

I asked the gentleman on the line how this could have happened. He explained that there are a number of these services now out there, and they pay online marketing fees to Google so that they are consistently listed above the government’s own website in keyword-driven search engines. I immediately called Amex, and had all of this site’s third party bills placed under dispute. And I will have no problem handing this grievance over to my lawyer should the situation call for it next. After all, here we have yet another Internet “trap,” ready to be sprung on any unsuspecting person who may not know the difference in the copyright process.

The authorized and government-issued virtual copyright form—found on eco.copyright.gov—is just as easy to fill out the third party form, which is presented onscreen in a virtually identical format. Paper forms can be downloaded from the Copyright Office site copyright.gov/forms/, printed and mailed. Both are official sites of the Copyright Office. Here’s how I see it: If we fell into this trap as a trade book publisher, how many other of our fellow indie publishers and author-publishers are also being ripped off by these companies?

The normal cost of copyrighting a book here in the US should cost either $45 dollars or $65 dollars—that’s it. There is no good reason for publishers and writers alike to then have to also pay an additional $99 dollars per title, because they are unaware that the site they have opened is not legitimately associated with our government’s own site. If it can happen to us, it can happen to you. And you can bet that I will be sure to add this incident to my next lecture as an especially infuriating case study.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,700 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

With this information, IBPA hopes its member publishers keep the delays in mind and are able to adjust their publishing schedules and expectations accordingly. And, of course, despite the current printing delays, both Meg and Tim said their companies are open for business and happy to hear from IBPA members about their printing needs.

For more information about the printing backlog, read this NY Times article from August 27, 2020.

"I've talked with several printers in the past couple of weeks—from short run digital to offset printers—and unfortunately this is true. We are experiencing this as well," said Tim Malott, business development manager at HF Group.

"More and more folks were holding onto their publications because of COVID-19. Now that restrictions are being lifted more and more, publishers are releasing titles and expecting same to shorter turn times. The printing industry is experiencing shortages and higher costs of paper, and other materials, but the main contributor is just the shortage of workers. It is hard to fill positions, which causes delays in production.

"We are blessed to be so busy, especially after last year, but it is also a bit of a curse when it is hard to keep up with the demand!"

"Multiple factors that can contribute to longer than normal print turn times," said Meg Souza, marketing manager/account representative at Total Printing Systems.

"Time of year: Late summer is the start of the busy season as publishers rush to have print runs finished in time for the school year. On the heels of that rush are the titles that need to be in-hand for holiday sales.

"Last year many publishers held off on their spring titles because of COVID-19 and then printers became overwhelmed in the fall when publishers decided to move ahead with those titles.

"Another big factor in the last couple of years has been the loss of a few large book manufacturers, Thomson-Shore and Edwards Brothers Malloy to name two. The manufacturers still standing have to make up for all the press time that was lost. As you can imagine that means the same or a greater number of projects trying to be produced through a smaller funnel."

(Manhattan Beach, CA – March 11, 2021) – The U.S. Copyright Office has officially launched a website and FAQs page for the new Copyright Small Claims Board, which was created as a result of Congress' passage of the CASE Act in December, 2020.

As explained on the U.S. Copyright Office website, the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) “will be a three-member tribunal within the Office that will provide an efficient and user-friendly option to resolve certain copyright disputes that involve less than $30,000 (called ‘small claims’). The Office is in the process of developing the CCB, which should be available to hear claims by December 27, 2021.”

As the largest trade association for independent book publishers in the U.S., IBPA advocated for the CASE Act for more than a year. Beginning in mid-2019, IBPA joined the Copyright Alliance and began to actively ask its nearly 3,700 members to contact their state representatives and encourage them to pass the bill into law.

The new law is designed to ensure that individual content creators and other copyright owners who depend on copyright for their livelihoods but can’t afford the costs of protracted litigation gain access to justice.

IBPA members can learn more about the new CCB and what it will do for independent publishers and creators by visiting these sites:

Copyright Small Claims and the Copyright Claims Board

Copyright Claims Board Frequently Asked Questions

About the IBPA Advocacy Committee

The IBPA Advocacy Committee is a standing committee of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to address issues of concern to independent publishers. The committee's objectives are to (1) identify and prioritize issues of concern to independent publishers, (2) establish campaigns and take actions to address these concerns, and (3) ensure that IBPA members are informed of these concerns, and the steps taken to address them. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org/advocacycommittee.

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,600 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

(New York, New York - January 12, 2021) -- A team of three publishing industry consultants have united to explore COVID-19’s effects on U.S. book publishing market, including trade, K-12, and higher education. COVID-19 and Book Publishing: Impacts and Insights for 2021 looks at each segment individually, as well as specific analyses of bookstores and libraries.

But a major value of the report is the extent to which it looks beyond industry sources, to consider the broader economic and social picture that surrounds book publishing, heading in 2021. With chapters on the economy as a whole, on retail, and on the entertainment industries, the report steps outside book publishing and looks back in from multiple perspectives.

Examples from the report of external impacts on the immediate and future prospects for book publishing include:

• The potential effects of mall closings on chain bookstore sales;
• The growing role of non-traditional booksellers (e.g., Walmart and Target, also re-energized in their online efforts by the dramatic shift to online retail);
• Disruption in higher education proving a boon to college publishers’ digital sales, and the likely boost to direct-to-consumer channels from increased homeschooling and educational materials purchases by parents of K-12 students;
• The threat to library budgets from state and local government revenue shortfalls;
• and indicators in digital entertainment of the growing importance of integrating social connection in media products.

The 50-page report is available for download without cost at https://tinyurl.com/yy6rt4xy.

About the Authors

• Cliff Guren is the founder of Syntopical. The firm provides strategic planning and business development services to publishers, technology companies, and industry service providers. Cliff has held senior management positions at Apple, Microsoft, Quebecor, and Asymetrix.
• Thad McIlroy is an electronic publishing analyst and author based in San Francisco and Vancouver, BC. His site, The Future of Publishing, provides in-depth coverage of the book publishing industry. He is also a partner in Publishing Technology Partners.
• Steve Sieck is president of SKS Advisors, a New York-based research and strategic consultancy firm specializing in business, professional and academic publishing and information services, and a partner in Publishing Technology Partners.