{
  "id": 17344,
  "title": "Major Publisher Cans $2.4 Million Book Deal After Author Was Accused of Using AI, for a Very Cynical Reason",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/major-publisher-cans-2-4-million-book-deal-after-author-was-accused",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-07-31T20:59:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/major-publisher-million-book-deal-author-accused-ai"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Major book publisher Minotaur, a subsidiary of the large publishing corporation Macmillan US, has terminated a $2.4 million contract for an uncompleted debut novel \"Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body\" by author Jerry Falade. The decision to retract the deal stems from suspicions of artificial intelligence (AI) involvement in the writing process. However, the publisher's move is not a stand against AI use but rather a practical concern over copyright protection if the book contains AI-generated content. The publishing industry is currently grappling with a crisis as AI-generated text becomes more prevalent, making it challenging for authentic writers to differentiate themselves. Despite the novel being unpublished, multiple film and television studios have already begun vying for rights, causing a significant dilemma for Minotaur. AI detectors revealed evidence of AI usage, which was initially denied by Falade. His agent, Sandy Hodgman, stated that they could no longer verify the origin of the manuscript, leading to the withdrawal of the book. Several companies involved in securing rights for the book also decided to exit the project. This incident highlights the precarious situation for human authors, as they face potential plagiarism by AI tools. Companies are inundated with AI-generated books, further overshadowing the work of genuine authors. The authenticity of AI usage in the novel remains uncertain, leaving numerous questions about copyrights and legal actions pending. The author, Jerry Falade, has denied the allegations and expressed disappointment at the sudden downfall of his promising career.",
  "summary": "\"Unfortunately, we are no longer able to authenticate how the manuscript fully evolved from origin to completion.\" The post Major Publisher Cans $2.4 Million Book Deal After Author Was Accused of Using AI, for a Very Cynical Reason appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [
    "Minotaur cancels $2.4M deal for uncompleted novel",
    "AI suspicion leads to deal termination, not AI ban",
    "Author Jerry Falade denies AI involvement allegations"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}