Taylor and Francis, a prominent international academic publisher, has sold access to its vast repository of author’s work to Microsoft as part of a partnership aimed at enhancing AI systems.
The Bookseller confirmed that “it is providing Microsoft non-exclusive access to advanced learning content and data to help improve relevance and performance of AI systems”.
This agreement has reportedly added $10 million to Informa’s revenue (the parent company of Taylor and Francis) during the initial phase. According to statements from Taylor and Francis, the financial arrangement includes a one-time payment coupled with recurring revenues that will be remitted over three years.
Author Reactions to the Deal
The response from the academic community has been one of pronounced shock and discontent following the announcement of the agreement.
Authors whose works may be used in AI training were reportedly uninformed about the deal and raised concerns about the lack of transparency. Many expressed frustrations over the absence of consultation before the sale of their work, particularly with the ongoing debates surrounding the implications of AI in academic research.
Dr. Ruth Alison Clemens, a literature lecturer, expressed her concerns about the lack of request for consent from Taylor and Francis. She stated that she only became aware of the agreement through informal channels rather than through direct notification from the publisher.
Queries surrounding the possibility of opting out of the deal have arisen, but Taylor and Francis have not provided definitive clarity on this matter, leading authors to feel marginalized in the decision-making process.
Legal and Ethical Problems
The deal between Taylor and Francis and Microsoft has released legal and ethical issues, particularly regarding copyright and moral rights. Many authors expressed alarm about how their works would be utilized without explicit consent or adequate compensation.
The Society of Authors (SoA) has emphasized that the deal could potentially undermine existing moral rights, which are designed to protect an author's reputation and the integrity of their work.
They have highlighted the importance of protecting creators' rights and ensuring that their contributions are acknowledged and compensated fairly.
Several voices within the academic community have pointed out that the deal could jeopardize traditional publishing models, where revenue is derived primarily from the sale of published research.