Agency stole bestselling author's book, used AI to relaunch as their own (waxy.org)

A marketing agency, Qontour, has launched an unauthorized website for John Koenig’s bestseller, *The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows*, which includes the entire text of the book along with AI-generated images and a feature that allows users to create new words using AI. This site is not affiliated with Koenig, who confirmed he did not participate in its creation and expressed confusion over the slick imitation. The new site has been optimized to outrank Koenig's official site in search results, raising concerns about copyright infringement, consent, and the ethical implications of AI-generated content. This incident highlights a troubling trend in the AI/ML community, where unauthorized use of original works to create derivative sites can lead to significant confusion and misinformation about authorship. Moreover, Qontour's actions exemplify a broader issue of generative AI consuming and repackaging existing human-created content without proper attribution or permission, potentially damaging the reputations of original creators while further entrenching power within large tech firms. This case underscores the urgent need for clearer guidelines and protections around AI use and copyright as the intersection of creativity and technology continues to evolve.