As an indie author and publisher with over 150 books under my belt at Tiggio Publishing, I’m always watching how technology affects our ability to protect and profit from our creative work. In March 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court made a quiet but important move that has giant implications for writers using AI tools.
Many people saw headlines and thought, “The Supreme Court approved copyright for AI-assisted books!” Let’s clear that up with the facts—and explain why this ruling is actually excellent news for authors like us.What Really Happened?The case was Thaler v. Perlmutter. Dr. Stephen Thaler tried to register copyright for a piece of art created entirely autonomously by his AI system, with no human creative input. He even listed the AI itself as the author.The U.S. Copyright Office rejected it. Lower courts agreed. And on March 2, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal (denied certiorari). This leaves standing the clear legal principle.
Many people saw headlines and thought, “The Supreme Court approved copyright for AI-assisted books!” Let’s clear that up with the facts—and explain why this ruling is actually excellent news for authors like us.What Really Happened?The case was Thaler v. Perlmutter. Dr. Stephen Thaler tried to register copyright for a piece of art created entirely autonomously by his AI system, with no human creative input. He even listed the AI itself as the author.The U.S. Copyright Office rejected it. Lower courts agreed. And on March 2, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal (denied certiorari). This leaves standing the clear legal principle.
- Purely AI-generated works (where a machine creates the output with little to no human creative direction) are not eligible for copyright protection under current U.S. law. They are essentially in the public domain.
- You brainstorm the plot.
- You outline the chapters.
- You use AI to help draft scenes, suggest dialogue, or polish grammar.
- You rewrite, add your unique perspective, infuse emotion, and shape the final manuscript.
- You can safely experiment with AI tools to speed up drafting, overcome writer’s block, or refine your stories—especially helpful when producing high-quality children’s books that celebrate joy, culture, and imagination.
- Copyright can still protect your finished books, whether they are fully human-written or AI-assisted.
- You maintain full ownership and control when selling direct on platforms like Books.by, where you keep 100% of the royalties after your flat annual plan (instead of giving Amazon a large cut).
- Keep records of your creative process — notes, outlines, revisions, and decisions you made. This helps if you ever need to register the copyright.
- Disclose AI use honestly when required (some platforms and registration forms now ask).
- Focus on what makes your voice unique — AI can help with the mechanics, but your heart, experiences, and storytelling magic are irreplaceable.
- Sell direct on your site. With my move away from Amazon KDP to Books.by and Barnes & Noble Press, every sale supports independent publishing and gives me higher returns.
