The Society of Authors

What The Society of Authors does

The Society of Authors is the United Kingdom's trade union for professional writers, illustrators, and literary translators, founded in 1884 and headquartered at 24 Bedford Row, London. It is structured as both a company limited by shares (registered in England and Wales, company number 00019993) and an independent trade union with special register body status, an unusual dual configuration in which nominally held shares are bound to act only on direct member instruction. The organization represents approximately 12,500 members across three primary segments — writers, illustrators, and literary translators (the latter organized through its Translators Association) — and operates with a small staff team of 11-50 employees under a member-elected Management Committee of 12.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively from recurring annual membership subscriptions, supplemented by donations and event/program-related income; specific fee levels are not publicly disclosed. Core services include contract vetting and tailored advice, hardship and works-in-progress grants (£250,000 awarded each year in works-in-progress grants, with cumulative hardship grant distributions exceeding £1.4 million since 2020), and an annual awards programme worth over £120,000 in prize money (£140,000 in 2024). Distribution is direct-to-member through the website's members' area, phone support (020 3880 2230), email, online and in-person events, and a multi-platform social presence (Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn, Vimeo, Apple Podcasts via 'SOA Sounds'). The underlying technology is a standard member-database and content-management architecture — there are no proprietary AI/ML products or platforms developed in-house.

In March 2026, the SoA launched the 'Human Authored' voluntary certification logo at the London Book Fair to distinguish human-authored books from AI-generated content, marking its first tangible productized offering beyond membership services. The organization has also built strategic coalitions with four other UK creative-industry trade bodies (Association of Photographers, Society of Musicians, Equity, Association of Illustrators) to lobby jointly for the CLEAR regulatory framework governing generative AI. Its Scottish branch joined the Scottish Trades Union Congress in 2023 to secure formal access to devolved policy forums.

Name

The Society of Authors

Legal name

The Society of Authors

Website

https://societyofauthors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Society of Authors is a UK trade union for ~12,500 professional writers, illustrators, and literary translators, founded in 1884. It provides contract advice, grants, awards, and advocacy, and in 2026 launched a 'Human Authored' certification logo to distinguish human-written books from AI-generated content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Author Trade Union Services

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Author Service Marketplaces & Aggregators (Vetting, Bundled Services) (MPAJAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Self-Publishing & Author Platforms (BPAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Author trade union
• Writer advocacy services
• Literary professional association
• Contract vetting authors
• Publishing industry advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: The SoA operates as a membership-based trade union where professional writers, illustrators, and literary translators pay subscription fees to join and access services including advice, contract vetting, resources, grants, and awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Society of Authors is a UK trade union, founded in 1884, that represents approximately 12,500 professional writers, illustrators, and literary translators. It sells individual membership that bundles a professional advice line, contract-vetting service, hardship and works-in-progress grants, literary awards and prizes, and collective advocacy on copyright and AI. It also operates the Human Authored certification mark launched in March 2026.

Product overview

The Society of Authors is a UK trade union for writers, illustrators, and literary translators (approximately 12,500 members) founded in 1884. The organization's primary offering is its membership services including advice, contract vetting, and guidance for professional authors. In March 2026, it launched the Human Authored Logo scheme as its flagship product offering—a voluntary certification that allows authors to display a badge distinguishing human-written works from AI-generated content, addressing the publishing industry's need for transparency around AI usage in creative works.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Author membership Individual membership of The Society of Authors, giving writers, illustrators, and literary translators access to the union's advice line, contract vetting, grants, awards, and advocacy services on an annual subscription basis. Approximately 12,500 members hold this membership.
• Contract vetting and advice service Professional advice line plus review of publishing, licensing, and other author contracts, available to members facing negotiations with publishers or agents.
• Authors' Foundation grants programme Charitable grants to Society of Authors members, including hardship grants for authors in financial difficulty and works-in-progress grants to support specific writing projects.
• Literary awards and prizes Annual literary awards and prizes run by The Society of Authors to recognise published works by writers, illustrators, and literary translators in the UK.
• Human Authored mark Certification mark and associated scheme enabling authors to label works as Human Authored, helping readers and publishers distinguish human-written works from AI-generated content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of members voted in favor of Resolution 1 asserting they do not consent to AI use of their works (1,833 for, 52 against)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Scottish TUCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The SoA in Scotland joined the Scottish TUC in 2023 to secure access to government forums on behalf of Scottish authors. This provides the SoA with a formal voice in Scottish labor and policy discussions.
• English PENsupportingOthersThe SoA regularly supports the work of English PEN, a charity promoting literature and human rights, particularly for authors at risk. The SoA directs members to English PEN for support with freedom of expression issues.
• PEN InternationalsupportingOthersThe SoA supports PEN International's work for authors at risk globally. Through membership in the International Authors' Forum, the SoA is involved in international advocacy for authors.
• International Authors' Forum (IAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SoA is a member of the International Authors' Forum (IAF), which allows participation in international advocacy and coordination on issues affecting authors globally, including work related to authors at risk.
• Association of PhotographerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive UK creative industry organizations including the SoA, Association of Photographers, Society of Musicians, Equity, and Association of Illustrators released a joint report calling on the government to implement a regulatory framework for generative AI. These organizations are lobbying together for creator rights.
• Society of MusicianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the five-organization coalition lobbying for AI regulation that protects creators. The joint report proposes the CLEAR framework requiring consent, licensing, ethical data use, accountability, and remuneration.
• EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the five-organization coalition lobbying for AI regulation that protects creators. Equity represents UK actors, singers, and other entertainment industry workers.
• Association of IllustratorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the five-organization coalition lobbying for AI regulation that protects creators. The Association of Illustrators works alongside the SoA on visual creators' rights issues.
• Mi-VoicesupportingTechnology or IntegrationSpecialist voting company appointed by the SoA to carry out statutory communications around voting and proxy voting, and to securely manage democratic processes for the EGM. The SoA spent approximately £21,000 on the EGM including Mi-Voice services.
• Publishing DeclaressupportingOthersIndustry commitment on sustainability that the SoA supports through its 'Tree To Me' campaign. Members are urged to engage with their publishers and readers to support sustainability initiatives.
• Sustainability Industry ForumsupportingOthersThe SoA is part of the Sustainability Industry Forum and has its own Sustainability Working Group and Sustainability Member Network to address environmental concerns in the publishing industry.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Association of Authors' Representatives: The AAR is a US trade association of literary and dramatic agents — adjacent rather than directly competitive. Comparable in that it sets standards and advocates for author-side issues (commission caps, ethics), but serves agents rather than writers directly.

Broad incumbents

• PEN International: PEN International is the global umbrella of PEN centres worldwide, focused on literature and freedom of expression. It is a coalition partner of the SoA through the International Authors' Forum and overlaps on free-expression and at-risk-author advocacy.

Direct peers

• Authors Guild: The Authors Guild is the closest analogue: a US-based advocacy and trade-association organisation for published authors, offering contract vetting, advice, lobbying on copyright/AI, and litigation support. It mirrors the Society of Authors' model with the same member services (advice, contract review, advocacy, insurance) and serves an analogous creator constituency in a different geography.
• National Writers Union: The National Writers Union is a US trade union representing freelance writers, journalists, and book authors — providing contract advice, grievance support, and collective bargaining. A direct functional peer in structure (union for writers) if not in exact constituency mix.
• English PEN: English PEN is a UK-based charity promoting literature and freedom of expression, with a Writers in Prison Committee and awards for translators and authors at risk. While focused more on free-expression advocacy than commercial author services, it overlaps significantly with the SoA's advocacy mission and shares member constituencies.
• The Writers' Union of Canada: The Writers' Union of Canada is a national trade union for Canadian book authors, providing contract advice, advocacy on copyright and AI, grants, and member services. It mirrors the SoA's dual advocacy/service mandate on a smaller national scale.
• New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ): NZSA is a national membership organisation and PEN-affiliated body for New Zealand authors, providing advocacy, advice, and community. Functionally the same role as the SoA in its national market.
• The Australian Society of Authors: The Australian Society of Authors is the equivalent national membership organisation for Australian writers, offering contract vetting, advice, advocacy, and grants. Same dual mission (union + service body) and serves an analogous creator segment in a different market.

Regional players

• Writers Guild of Great Britain: The Writers Guild of Great Britain represents writers in film, television, radio, theatre, and book publishing — a UK-based union with an overlapping but different constituency (screenwriters vs. book authors). Comparable structure but distinct craft focus.

Others

• Society of Musicians (Incorporated Society of Musicians): The ISM is a UK membership body for musicians providing advice, contract vetting, advocacy, and campaigning — an adjacent creator-sector union with the same service/advocacy model. Active coalition partner of the SoA in the CLEAR framework lobbying effort.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soc_of_authors
• YouTubevimeo.com/thesocietyofauthors
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSocietyofAuthors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-society-of-authors
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesocietyofauthors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Society of Authors