5 Ways AI Misuse Threatens the Publishing Industry

At the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, French publishers took a unified stance against what they called two major threats to their industry’s future—AI misuse and unregulated second-hand book sales. They warned that both could undermine authors’ rights, creative integrity, and long-term publishing revenues unless clear regulations are enforced.

The warning comes amid rising tension across the European publishing sector, which continues to battle economic slowdowns and declining sales. In France alone, publishing revenue dropped by 1.5% in 2024, with book volume losses even sharper. Similar challenges are being reported in Germany and Italy, while Spain and Portugal have shown more resilience.

Mounting Legal Battles Over AI Training Practices

Vincent Montagne, president of the French Publishers’ Union (SNE), highlighted the growing legal pushback against the use of copyrighted works in AI model training. He referenced ongoing negotiations between U.S. publishers and Anthropic, where compensation claims surpass $1.5 billion, calling it evidence of “massive and undeniable copyright violations.”

France is taking its own legal route. The SNE, alongside several authors, has filed a lawsuit against Meta, accusing the tech giant of counterfeiting and unfair competition. Montagne pledged to see the case through, warning that AI-generated “fake books” — created in bulk from copyrighted materials — are flooding online marketplaces without any editorial oversight.

Still, industry leaders recognize that AI can play a constructive role if used responsibly. Catherine Lucet, CEO of Editis, noted that AI can improve content discovery and workflow efficiency in an increasingly crowded market. However, she stressed that fair compensation for the use of training catalogs must be guaranteed, urging collective action from publishers’ associations to ensure equitable outcomes.

Second-Hand Book Market: A Growing Revenue Drain

While AI remains a long-term concern, publishers see the second-hand book trade as a more immediate financial threat. Montagne described the resale boom as “a value capture that gives nothing back to creators,” warning that it undermines both editorial diversity and new creation.

According to a 2024 study by La Sofia, second-hand book sales now account for 15–20% of the French book market—a share that continues to grow. Yet neither authors nor publishers receive compensation from these resales.

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To address this, Montagne called for legislation introducing a resale right for second-hand books, similar to existing frameworks like fixed book pricing, reprography rights, public lending rights, and private copying levies. These, he said, historically balanced public access with fair compensation for rights holders—a balance that must now be restored for the sake of cultural sustainability.

The French State Council has expressed support for this concept, but Montagne emphasized that “political will remains the missing link.” He warned that the issue is urgent as physical and digital resale networks continue to expand rapidly.

Export Growth and Rights Sales Offer Hope

Despite internal pressures, French publishers continue to find strength in international rights sales, which Antoine Gallimard, president of France Livre, described as “the heartbeat of French book exports.” Adaptations for film and television have surged, boosting both visibility and profitability.

France Livre has also expanded its regional outreach programs, including the Paris Book Market, launched four years ago. The event has quickly become a cornerstone for international rights negotiations, with its 2026 edition scheduled for June 4–5, featuring Holland as its first-ever guest of honor. Hybrid event formats are now enabling broader participation from global publishing professionals.

Public Funding Faces Tightening Constraints

The international success of French publishing relies in part on strong state backing—support now threatened by budget reductions. The National Book Centre (CNL), which funds the translation of around 500 titles annually and supports more than 100 francophone bookstores worldwide, faces pressure to maintain its programs. The agency also aids co-editions with African and Asian publishers, ensuring France’s literary reach extends well beyond Europe.

A Call for Balanced Innovation

French publishers leave Frankfurt 2025 with a clear message: innovation must not come at the expense of authors’ rights or creative diversity. They are calling for transparent AI governance and fair resale frameworks to safeguard both the cultural and economic foundations of publishing.

As Montagne summed up, “Access and creation must evolve together — one cannot survive without the other.”

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