Generative AI & Protected Works Policy

Because of accelerating use of generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) in the production of book cover artwork and in the writing of manuscripts, we have established a policy regarding the use of AI in book creation.

Manuscripts submitted to Prepare for Rain Press for publishing or promotion will be screened to the best of our ability. Prepare for Rain Press will not 1) accept for publishing or 2) promote a book we know is or may be violating a copyright or a trademark.

The AI Overview

Generative AI makes both of these at risk and more complicated to manage.

• Because generative AI compiles “learned” LMM data into content, that content came from data “learning” accomplished through the program’s consumption of free use and copyrighted work from anything on the internet [artwork, photos, images, movies, short stories, full books, newspaper articles, blogs, social posts, libraries, etc.]
• Consequently, nothing that generative AI “creates” is an original work; it is by its very nature iterative of human creation. Therefore nothing that generative AI produces is recognized as such by the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office. At least, not yet.
• In many cases—perhaps most—LLM data was consumed without the knowledge or approval of its creator. This is especially so with books and their authors.

Our Position

Recognizing that generative AI presents unique challenges to publishers, Prepare for Rain Press nevertheless accepts that this new technology is not going away.

Indeed, a day doesn’t go by without an email hitting our inbox that’s brimming with excitement about a new tool, app, or something, that will empower an author to finally do something they couldn’t before. Or not as fast. Or not as affordably. NOTE: these emails are coming from trusted sources and industry experts within the independent author community.

Clearly, not everyone sees AI as a Terminator T1000.^¥

Therefore, we do not intend to unilaterally prohibit its use or application in any of our services. Rather, we anticipate using generative AI for image creation for promotional use, paid ads, book covers, and for assistance in copywriting: i.e., blurb retooling, newsletter management, or website updating or construction.

Consequently, we will do our best to plainly and clearly telegraph when generative AI has been applied, and to what extent.

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^¥However, even some of the creators of AI have expressed grave concerns about the future of AI. These concerns are not without founding and are worthy of continual consideration. Having said that, we’re a small publishing house engaged in helping writers become authors with published books.

Our Expectation

Due to these changes in the creative marketplace, we anticipate the following may be utilized in Prepare for Rain Press services, promotions, and events:

✅ Book covers utilizing generative AI images (in whole or in part). As noted earlier, AI images were created using the data from the original artwork or photographs of others. Now, AI images are more often generated by using other AI images as a building block. Purists will argue that doesn’t change anything. We expect similar arguments were made about the Model T, locomotives, flight, the wheel, and electricity. Are we enthralled by this massive technological shift? Not so much. However, we believe the point for tilting at this windmill came and went more than 2 years ago.

More importantly, any cover produced by us will never be entirely AI-generated. It will be the result of hours of design work primarily using Adobe Photoshop, and possibly other graphic design tools. Again, it is important to note that Adobe itself—like virtually every other technology-centric company on earth—has fully integrated AI into their ecosystem.

🛑Book covers using a licensed, trademarked likeness, logo, or design. Of course not.

🛑Book covers displaying a celebrity image or likeness. Of course not. The odds of us trusting that the author has successfully obtained the requisite legal documents to use a celebrity’s likeness are not in their favor.

🛑Books written using any generative AI. The operative word here is “written.” Simple spell-checking programs have been around for decades and run on an algorithm (another word for AI). We expect an intelligent writer to have liberally used tools like that to create a more polished book. They may have used AI for editing their work; this produces mixed results, and “mixed” equals “poor.”

However, using generative AI to literally generate a polished book is 1) a fool’s errand (it will never be “polished” enough by AI) and 2) employing AI to write any part of your book means AI is your co-author. Which means you aren’t ready yet to be published. Being a published author is earned, not bypassed through purchased software.

More Information Regarding Protected Works

Prepare for Rain Press is 100% against piracy of any kind and has a zero-tolerance policy on the subject. Prepare for Rain Press does not sell, rent, share, or in any other way distribute an author’s book without their permission. Author’s books found on our Prepare for Rain Press website are available via links to retailers or direct sales product pages on an author’s website.

Prepare for Rain Press is more concerned about the flood of AI slop eclipsing the work of real human authors trying to compete in the marketplace for the attention of readers. We see the limited and intentional use of AI to level the playing field, at least a little, to be more than worth managing the less happy aspects of AI. Hoping AI goes away is not a strategy for success any more than it is to tilt at windmills.

Prepare for Rain Press is even more concerned about the use of AI slopaganda in political ads (research it), and how governments intend to “safeguard” us (or not) from AI…or with AI.