“It is a welcome debate about how AI should be used in relation to literature, and this is truly a horrifying example,” says Anja Gatu, chair of the Swedish Writers’ Association.
Copyright law includes protection for older works that are no longer covered by copyright.
“This means that you cannot distort a work in any way,” says Anja Gatu.
In less than a year, Bokum has reportedly translated and modernized more than 800 classic works, including Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” and Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”. The book covers have also been accused of being AI-generated.
The Swedish Academy has the right to take the issue of protection for classic works to court. Representatives of the Academy told Svensk Bokhandel that they are following the case.
TT is seeking comment from Bokum.
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