Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 07 SEPTEMBER 2026

AI, Authorship, And Risk Management

BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Contributor
BTO Solicitors LLP

BTO Solicitors LLP

BTO is an independent Scottish law firm based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Helensburgh, which has...

View firm profile
Explore more from BTO Solicitors LLP

A high-profile publishing deal worth £1.5m collapsed after concerns emerged about AI use in manuscript creation, raising critical questions about copyright originality, authorship authentication...

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Lauren McFarlane
Lauren McFarlane

On 31 July, it was announced that a high-profile publishing deal reportedly worth £1.5m for a debut crime novel had collapsed following concerns that the author had utilised artificial intelligence (“AI”) when writing it.

Minotaur, an imprint of Macmillan US, had plans to publish the works in 2028 but withdrew their offer following receipt of an email from the author’s agents, in which the agents explained that they were “no longer able to authenticate how the manuscript fully evolved from origin to completion”.

For the publishing industry, these concerns are not new but the recent Macmillan US issue does act as a salutary reminder to authors of the risks inherent in AI use and raises valid questions about how AI risk can be mitigated and managed by publishers, agents and authors alike.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

AI, Deepfakes And Image Rights: Does English Law Protect Your Face, Voice And Likeness?

Generative AI has created a legal vacuum where synthetic images and deepfakes can be created and shared without consent, yet English law offers no standalone "image right" to protect individuals. With celebrities like Lisa Riley and over 80 performers demanding reform, the question is whether the UK's patchwork of intellectual property, data protection, and common law protections can adequately address this rapidly evolving threat to personal autonomy and reputation.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP
Article

The Sound Of Ownership: Why AI Voice Cloning Is Raising New IP Questions

As AI voice cloning technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, the Save Our Voices Now campaign calls for statutory rights allowing individuals to own and control their voice as intellectual property. This article examines whether existing UK law sufficiently protects one of our most personal and recognisable attributes, exploring copyright, trade marks, passing off, and the practical steps individuals and businesses can take.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Ashfords LLP
Ashfords LLP
Article

High Court Clarifies The Limits Of Copyright Claims Against Online Marketplaces

The UK High Court has delivered a landmark ruling on online marketplace liability, dismissing Shein's copyright infringement claims against Temu and clarifying when platforms can be held responsible for third-party content. The judgment examines the boundaries of copyright ownership in complex supply chains and establishes important precedents for how marketplace operators should respond to infringement allegations.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
HGF Law
HGF Law
Article

The Manchester Creative Industries AI Summit – The Government's Opportunity To Set Out A Policy Direction On Copyright And AI?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has convened the Creative Industries AI Summit in Manchester to bring together rightsholders, regulators, platforms and AI labs to align on a common approach to copyright-protected works in AI development. The Summit will unveil the 'Manchester Principles', a framework establishing minimum conditions for using human creative work to train generative AI models.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
Article

UPC CoA Confirms Jurisdiction Over Pending European Patent Application

The UPC Court of Appeal has confirmed that the Unified Patent Court can exercise jurisdiction over European patent applications, provided they are granted before the defendant files their statement of defence. This landmark decision means patent holders may now be locked into the UPC system even before their patents are officially granted, fundamentally changing the strategic timing considerations for opting out of UPC jurisdiction.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
HGF Law
HGF Law
Article

New ACAS Code Of Practice On Disciplinary And Grievance Procedures: What Employers Need To Know

ACAS has launched a consultation on a new draft Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures, marking the first full update since 2009. The proposed changes place greater emphasis on informal resolution before formal processes begin, introduce guidance on suspension and AI use, and shift the focus from procedural compliance to management judgement.
United KingdomEmployment and HR
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Article

Co-production Agreements In Theatre: Practical Issues To Consider

Co-production agreements enable theatre companies to pool resources and share risks when developing and staging theatrical productions. This article examines the essential contractual provisions that parties should negotiate before embarking on a co-production, from financial contributions and rights ownership to marketing responsibilities and future exploitation rights.
United KingdomMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Article

Disability-related Misconduct: Can Employers Still Dismiss?

When an employee's misconduct may be linked to a disability, employers face a challenging balance between maintaining workplace standards and complying with discrimination law. Recent tribunal decisions, including the BBC case involving journalist Sean McGinty, illustrate how courts assess whether conduct arises from disability under section 15 of the Equality Act 2010, and when dismissal may still be justified despite this connection.
United KingdomEmployment and HR
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Article

Weight-loss Medications And The Increasing Risk Of Claims

GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic have seen explosive growth in both NHS and private healthcare settings, with over four million prescriptions dispensed in 2025/26 alone. As millions more UK adults plan to start treatment and online providers proliferate, healthcare professionals face mounting exposure to clinical negligence claims arising from inadequate assessment, consent processes, and patient monitoring. What are the key risk factors driving potential litigation, and how c
United KingdomFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Article

Right To Work Checks Are Changing: What Organisations Should Do Now

From 1 October 2026, UK right to work verification duties will extend beyond traditional employment to encompass agency workers, contractors, consultants, and platform-based workers throughout supply chains. Organizations must now prepare by mapping their entire workforce, updating contracts, training operational managers, and establishing robust evidence systems to demonstrate compliance before individuals commence work. This expansion requires immediate action across HR, procurement, legal, and operations
United KingdomImmigration
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Article

When AI Goes Rogue: What The Recent OpenAI Cyber Attack Tell Us About Liability

Recent reporting has brought renewed attention to one of the central questions surrounding artificial intelligence: what happens when an AI system acts beyond the limits set for it? The reports concern an OpenAI agent which allegedly escaped a controlled testing environment during an internal cybersecurity evaluation and then accessed systems connected to Hugging Face, a major platform for hosting and sharing AI models.
United KingdomTechnology
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP
Article

New Workplace Harassment Duties: Is Your Organisation Ready?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a significantly higher standard for preventing workplace sexual harassment, requiring employers to take "all reasonable steps" rather than merely "reasonable steps." This shift demands comprehensive risk assessments, tailored policies, and proactive measures across all workplace interactions, including third-party conduct. Organizations must now demonstrate not just that action was taken, but that they considered and implemented the full range of available preventat
United KingdomEmployment and HR
BTO Solicitors LLP
BTO Solicitors LLP