Academic textbook authors voice concerns about their publishers seeking 85% cut of Bartz settlement distribution

Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA) Executive Director Kim Pawlak sent a 4-page letter to Judge Martínez-Olguín alleging that academic publishers are claiming entitlement to "85% to 95%" of the Bartz v. Anthropic settlement distribution for academic books, leaving authors with only 5% to 15%. Unlike other books covered by the settlement's default 50%-50% author-publisher split, academic books require authors to negotiate their share with publishers, and few authors know that Special Master Theodore K. Cheng, appointed by Judge Alsup, must be explicitly asked to resolve such disputes.

Well, it looks like the Bartz v. Anthropic settlement is not completely in the books. Kim Pawlak, the Executive Director of Textbook & Academic Authors Association TAA submitted a 4-page, single-spaced letter to Judge Martínez-Olguín . The letter alleges numerous problems textbook authors have faced. Under the terms of the settlement, the distribution of settlement funds for academic books is not governed the default 50%-50% split between authors and publishers as other books are. That has left academic textbook authors in the predicament of having to negotiate the % split with their publishers. And some academic publishers are reportedly taking the position they are entitled to “85% to 95%” of the distribution from the settlement fund. That would leave the actual authors with only 5% to 15% . Moreover, apparently few authors realize that a Special Master, Theodore K. Cheng https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69058235/501/bartz-v-anthropic-pbc/ , has been appointed by Judge Alsup to handle such disputes, much less that the authors have to explicitly ask for the Special Master to resolve their dispute with their publisher. From Judge Alsup’s order: Excerpt: DOWNLOAD THE LETTER: DOWNLOAD SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION OF ISSUES BY AUTHORS: