Academic Authors Shocked by Taylor & Francis AI Deal with Microsoft

Academic authors have expressed shock after learning that Taylor & Francis, the publisher owning Routledge, has sold access to their research as part of an AI partnership with Microsoft. This deal, worth nearly £8 million ($10 million) in its first year, was disclosed in a trading update by the publisher’s parent company in May.

Authors Uninformed and Uncompensated

Academics claim they were not informed about the AI deal, given no option to opt-out, and are not receiving additional payment for the use of their research by Microsoft. The Society of Authors has voiced concern over publishers signing deals with tech companies without consulting authors and creators first.

Academic Reactions

Dr. Ruth Alison Clemens, a lecturer in modern English literature, found out about the deal through word of mouth. Clemens expressed shock at the lack of communication from Taylor & Francis, emphasizing the growing concern among academic researchers regarding AI and large language models (LLMs).

Taylor & Francis and Informa's Response

A spokesperson from Taylor & Francis confirmed the partnership with Microsoft, stating it provides non-exclusive access to advanced learning content to improve AI systems' relevance and performance. The agreement includes an initial data access payment of $10 million, with a recurring payment over the next three years. However, the publisher claims to protect the integrity of authors’ work and limits on verbatim text reproduction while ensuring royalty payments in line with author contracts.

Financial Impact and Revenue Growth

Informa, Taylor & Francis’ parent company, expects revenues to approach £3.5 billion this financial year, up from £3.2 billion in 2023. Taylor & Francis revealed a revenue increase of 4.3% in 2023, reaching £619 million, with adjusted operating profit rising by 4.4% to £217.9 million.

Authors' Concerns and Calls for Clarity

One of the main concerns is the lack of clarity on whether authors can opt out of the AI partnership. Clemens and other academics have called for transparency and an opt-out option. The Society of Authors urged those who find their work used without consent to contact them for guidance and to participate in a survey by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) on collective licensing options.

Industry Responses and Future Considerations

The academic community's response has been significant, with many expressing concerns over the reduction of academic research to raw content for data extraction. Mia Gray, a professor at the University of Cambridge, and James McConnachie, an author and journalist, highlighted the importance of checking contracts and understanding publishers' AI policies. The Society of Authors emphasized the need to protect creators’ rights, considering the implications for copyright, moral rights, and data protection.

New Developments in AI Licensing

The Copyright Clearance Centre recently announced AI re-use rights within its Annual Copyright License (ACL), the first-ever collective licensing solution for the internal use of copyrighted materials in AI systems. This license aims to provide rights and remuneration for new uses of content, addressing the growing intersection of AI and copyright law.