Our end-of-week roundup feels dominated by the theme of expansion, with one story standing out in particular: the debate surrounding the HarperCollins AI licensing deal. Alongside this, Barnes & Noble’s surprising growth and Bluesky’s rapid user base expansion highlight significant shifts across industries.

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway examines the European Union's AI Act Draft Code of Practice, focusing on its impact on copyright, transparency, and data use in AI training. He also reports on the growth of self-publishing, with over 2.5 million books self-published with ISBNs last year—a 7.2 percent increase—and discusses how the new measures aim to protect authors from unauthorized use of their work by AI platforms.

Leaving aside those unfathomable creatures whose steady stream of purchases begins on December 26, thoughts are starting to turn at this time of year to subscription gifts and Christmas presents.