So, amid the furor of preparing for a book launch, I’ve had to divert time to another matter. I found out belatedly that The Obelisk Gate had been nominated for the Dragon Awards, basically when I started to hear murmurs that the awards were especially problematic this year. I went to go see what the […]

The United States on Friday stunned other members of the UN Security Council by preventing a vote on a resolution for a ceasefire in various conflicts around the world to help troubled nations better fight the coronavirus pandemic, diplomats said.

Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware®

Two issues involving Audible's ACX have come across my desk recently.

Rights Fraud

I've heard from several self- and small press-pubbed authors who report that they've found their books listed on ACX as open to narrator auditions...except that they, or their publishers, didn't put them there. This appears to be an attempt to steal authors' audio rights.

Below is one listing. Here's another and another and another. (All of these listings have been invalidated by ACX.)


See "Comments from the Rights Holder" at the bottom. The purported company, Publishing D LLC, does not show up on any searches.

The fraud seems pretty elaborate. Here's what one of the authors who contacted me told me:


These comments from a freelance audiobook narrator illustrate that "Publishing D" is not an isolated incidence.

Promotional Code Shenanigans

Multiple authors have contacted me to report that they've received an email from ACX withdrawing their promotional codes. The cited reason: "unusual activity," with no explanation of what that means.

The authors say that they have not used the codes improperly or violated ACX guidelines; in some cases, they've used the codes only a handful of times or not at all. See, for instance, blog posts by authors G. Michael Vasey and Adam Piggott. Per discussions on the KBoards and Reddit, a lot of authors seem to be affected.

Is this one of Amazon's (Audible's parent company) periodic crackdowns on misuse or fraud that has inadvertently ensnared innocent authors? According to author and self-publishing expert David Gaughran, ACX promo code scamming is a major problem, and Amazon's anti-abuse sweeps often involve a lot of collateral damage. Or could it be an error--a glitch or rogue algorithm?

So far, authors' efforts to get a fuller explanation have run up against the black box that is Amazon:


If I hear anything further, I'll update this post.

UPDATE 11/27/19: One of the authors who alerted me to the promo code withdrawal has received a notice saying that their codes are reinstated--however, they say that the promo code tab has yet to appear in their dashboard.


UPDATE 2/25/29: More about ACX scams, from a comment left by a narrator:

About the ACX thing...I was contacted by ACX to narrate three books, however, the person who offered the contracts kept emailing and frantically telling me to send them my book codes. I got leary and called ACX. They said unfortunately there are many scams taking place where if a book is "unclaimed" in their system, someone may grab it and offer it as an audiobook contract. Then they keep the codes and blackmarket sell them. They do not pay the narrators. Many other authors are experiencing it, they said, but they have no way to regulate it.

I declined the offers and got a nasty note from the contract holder. I was also told that since I corresponded with them, they had my email that is associated with Amazon..the same one. So, ACX said I had to go change my email on Amazon or they would have access there too. Geez.

Unidentified persons allegedly tried to withdraw nearly Rs 26 crore through cheques by forging signatures of senior civic and health officials from Thane district in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday. However, their attempts were foiled by alert bank officials, a police spokesperson said.

Two banks informed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) that some unidentified persons came to their branches in Pune and Chennai in the last few days carrying cheques worth around Rs 26 crore and bearing signatures of civic commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal and health officer R T Kendre, the official said. They informed the TMC that these persons wanted to deposit the cheques in favour of some private organisations.

On cross-checking with the TMC about such high-value cheques, the banks got to know that those were not issued by the civic body, she said. Later, during verification, the cheques were found to be carrying forged signatures and stamps of the senior civic and health officials, she said.

Based on a complaint by the civic body, an offence was registered on Saturday against unidentified persons under various Indian Penal Code sections for forgery and cheating, the police spokesperson said. No arrest was made so far, she said, adding that a probe was underway in the matter.

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YouTube has begun rolling out support for high dynamic range (HDR) video content for iPhone X, the media reported.

For iOS users, YouTube videos in HDR can be viewed on the iPhone X, but the feature does not yet appear to be working on the latest iPad Pro models, MacRumors reported late on Thursday.

HDR videos provide a broader range of colours and also supports quality video playback on a variety of screen sizes. YouTube has platforms like "The HDR Channel" that provides HDR videos for iOS.

Apple debuted HDR support last year with the "Super Retina" display in the iPhone X, which became the first HDR OLED display incorporated into one of Apple's smartphones, the report added.

On the iTunes Movies Store on Apple TV 4K, select films also support 4K, HDR10, and "Dolby Vision" when paired with compatible 4K television sets, the report added.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

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The Karnataka government has withdrawn its request to the railways to run special trains to ferry migrant labourers to their home states, hours after builders met Chief Minister, B S Yediyurappa to apprise him of the problems to the construction sector in case they left.

The principal secretary in the Revenue Department, N Manjunatha Prasad, who is the nodal officer for migrants, had requested the South Western Railways on Tuesday to run two train services a day for five days except Wednesday, when the state government wanted services thrice a day to Danapur in Bihar.

Karnataka CM, B S Yediyurappa addresses the media about the ongoing COVID-19 situation, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

However, later, Prasad wrote another letter within a few hours that the special trains were not required. Several migrants in the city were desperate to return home as they were out of job and money. “Since the train services are not required from tomorrow, the letter cited under reference above is withdrawn,” Prasad wrote to the SW Railway general manager on Tuesday.

The Railway officials said they have received the letter seeking withdrawal of the previous one for running special trains. However, Prasad was not available for comments. The builders had apprised the CM about the shortage of labourers if they were allowed to go back home, said a source privy to the issue.

Rs 1,610-cr package for the distressed

The Karnataka government announced a '1,610-crore relief package for the benefit of those in distress due to the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The measures announced by Chief Minister, B S Yediyurappa would bring relief to farmers, flower-growers, washermen, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, MSMEs, large industries, weavers, building workers and barbers. While the government will reach out to about 7.75 lakh auto and taxi drivers by providing a one-time compensation of '5,000 each, a similar assistance will also be extended to barbers and washermen (dhobis), who are also facing the heat of joblessness due to the lockdown.

WB asked to open cross-border transportation

With the Bengal government not adhering to the Centre's guideline on goods transportation through the India-Bangladesh border, the MHA has issued strict direction to the state to implement it “without any delay”. The state was also asked to submit a compliance report immediately. “You are directed to allow cross land border transportation through all Indo-Bangladesh borders without any delay and send the compliance report,” Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla said.

Delhi's Twitter handle for COVID queries

The Delhi government launched a Twitter handle for addressing COVID-19 related queries and complaints. The handle @DelhiVsCorona will ensure authentic information about the disease and serve as a one-stop solution for all the COVID-19 related queries and complaints, the government said. Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal has formed a team to monitor this Twitter handle. The team will gather live status of the situation and provide authentic information, it said.

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As of September 1, 2019, India introduced an obligation for tax to be deducted at source at a two percent rate if a taxpayer's cash withdrawals totaled INR10m (USD138,350) or more in the previous year.

Ontario's new government has scrapped the province's cap-and-trade carbon pricing regime, effective July 3.

An agreement has been reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom on Brexit, which, if approved by UK lawmakers, would establish a transition period, until the end of 2020, during which EU law would continue to apply to the UK.

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LAURA WILLIAMSON: Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been left 'devastated' after she was forced to pull out of the Commonwealth Games with a left foot injury.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Phillips Idowu and Shara Proctor have withdrawn from the Great Britain team for the European Championships in Zurich.

Forward Lorenzo Insigne has withdrawn from Italy's squad with a muscular problem ahead of European Championship qualifiers against Armenia and Finland.

Hideki Matsuyama has become the latest golfer to withdraw from the Olympics because of concerns over the Zika virus. He joins the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jason Day in deciding not to compete.

The Wolves winger, who also qualifies to play for Mali, had been expected to join up with Spain this week, following his first senior call-up having been in fine form for his side under Nuno Espirito Santo

Frantic clientele at a Bank of America branch in the heart in midtown requested to retrieve tens of thousands of dollars to stockpile, which accounted for the shortage  according to The New York Times.

Gold Star husband Joe Kent said the US only partnered with Syrian Kurds to defeat ISIS and insists America now has 'absolutely nothing to gain' from being in the region.

Despite knowing US intelligence was closing in on a location for Baghdadi, President Trump still ordered US troops to be withdrawn from the volatile region of northern Syria earlier this month.

President Donald Trump defended his relationship with Turkey at NATO meetings Tuesday following its invasion of northern Syria,

The Prime Minister will vow to 'mobilise the full breadth of our new freedoms' on Brexit night - as his Bill paving the way for Britain to leave the EU was finally passed by Parliament yesterday.

Mel B has been forced to withdraw from the judging panel of The X Factor.

A pro-government broadcaster said Eurovision was 'a homosexual flotilla' and that Hungary's mental health would be better off if it was out of the singing competition.

Uber has withdrawn its financial guidance for 2020 - covering metrics like gross bookings, adjusted net revenue, and adjusted EBITDA.In a press release on its website, Uber said the guidance it published on February 6 no longer applied, as the "uncertainty" caused by COVID-19 made its results "impossible" to predict.The ride-hailing giant also warned that the value of some of its minority investments could be reduced by up to $2.2 billion in Q1 of 2020, as a result of worldwide coronavirus lockdowns.On Wednesday, driver advocacy group Rideshare Drivers United said that more than 2,500 Uber and Lyft drivers in California have filed wage claims against the companies since February.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Uber has withdrawn its 2020 financial guidance, as uncertainty

The State Department warned that Iraq's access to its main account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York could be shut off if the Iraqi government asks American troops to leave.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has withdrawn from the Spain squad for the Nations League matches against England and Croatia, with Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas replacing him.

Daniel Janner, whose father Greville was caught up in the false claims, has told Mr Corbyn that honouring the ex-Labour deputy leader would be 'wrong and inappropriate'.

J. David Patterson penned the op-ed in 2017, days after an ISIS inspired attack. 'Multiculturalism is the antithesis of what the United States stands for', he wrote.

The Dutch captain played 90 minutes against Northern Ireland on Saturday as Holland qualified for Euro 2020, but has withdrawn from their final game due to 'personal circumstances.'

Woakes was picked up by Delhi Capitals for £160,000 at the tournament draft in December but has opted to pull out in a bid to keep himself fresh for the international summer.

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been forced to withdraw from the Croatia squad due to an Achilles injury. The 25-year-old has suffered an inflamed Achilles tendon in his right leg.

The Queen's Speech on Thursday, setting out the Government's agenda for the new Parliament, will give legislative force to the policy priorities which secured Mr Johnson's landslide win.

Team INEOS has announced they are pulling out of all racing until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23.

'Cash today, poverty tomorrow must be avoided, as large withdrawals from pension pots could mean later life hardship for many,' says the Association of British Insurers.

Tom Selby, a senior analyst at financial services firm AJ Bell, explains how first-timers and experienced investors can avoid unnecessary losses and big tax bills

Team INEOS has announced they are pulling out of all racing until the Volta a Catalunya on March 23.

Nicky Henderson announced on Sunday morning the brilliant two-miler was lame, after a dormant splint that had never caused a problem to the 10-year-old previously 'reared its ugly head'.

The 38-year-old, currently ranked three in the world, had committed to playing the inaugural tournament in Australia at the start of 2020, but has opted out in order to spend more time with his family.

Juan Martin del Potro has become the latest high-profile casualty of the Australian Open after it was announced the Argentine has withdrawn from the first Grand Slam of 2020.

MIKE DICKSON IN MELBOURNE: Andy Murray has issued a concerning update on his latest fitness struggles, stating that he was pulling out of his two scheduled tournament appearances.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Sportsmail exclusively revealed how Rooney was acting on behalf of the squad in their battle against proposals to impose a 50 per cent wage deferral.

Euro 2020 begins on June 12 and teams are frantically searching for opponents to play in the weeks leading up to the tournament but France are finding it particularly difficult.

UK credit cardholders paid the price for withdrawing money using their credit cards last year, being stung with £219million in fees and charges.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Sportsmail exclusively revealed how Rooney was acting on behalf of the squad in their battle against proposals to impose a 50 per cent wage deferral.

Antony Waste Handling Cell has decided to withdraw its initial public offering (IPO) on Monday, 16 March 2020, as it failed to secure enough subscription.

Hockey India had banned Punjab Armed Police, Jalandhar and J&K Police Hockey teams for three months for indiscipline and unruly behaviour.