PayAuthors.com Launches Service to Detect Books in Pirate Libraries

The Reader Times desk 15 October 2026 Based on Jane Friedman reporting

Engraved illustration of a library room with a study desk, shelves and warm light. — Editorial illustration for The Reader Times.

A new platform, PayAuthors.com, offers authors a way to discover whether their titles appear in unauthorized digital libraries.

PayAuthors.com is a newly launched website that provides authors with a tool to check if their books are being hosted in pirate libraries.

The service is promoted through Jane Friedman’s newsletter, which requires a paid subscription for full access to the article describing the platform.

Subscribers to the newsletter receive weekly publishing industry news, searchable access to over 3,000 premium articles, and private resource guides that are regularly updated.

The PayAuthors.com offering is positioned as a premium feature for authors concerned about unauthorized distribution of their work.