professional association for authors

Authors Guild

A nonprofit professional association advocating for writers’ rights, contracts, copyright, free expression, and author income. Authors Guild scores positively because it increases writer bargaining power against publishers, platforms, and AI/data extraction.

Why this matters: The Authors Guild is a strong author institution because it shifts some power toward writers, though it remains a professional association rather than democratic publishing infrastructure.

Letter grade B Qualified Medium confidence (AI) Rubric gcd-rubric-v1 Last reviewed May 8, 2026

Final Score 46* B - Qualified

BQUALIFIED46 pts

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

Base Material48

Bonus+5

Cap66No structure cap

After Cap53

Penalties-7

!Not Verified

Represent this organization?

Request verification to have the evidence record checked against primary materials and organization-supplied documents. Verification does not buy a higher score; scores change only when review finds factual errors, omissions, or miscalibration.

Request verification

Evaluation Overview

B - Qualified

The score turns mainly on Extraction, with the largest penalty coming from Reversibility.

Strengths

Extraction7/10
Ownership6/10
Governance6/10

Penalties

Reversibility-5
Accountability Opacity-2

Evidence state

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)
ThoroughnessDeveloped (AI)
Linked claims10
Direct axis claims8
Coverage8/15

Scoring Axes

Axis	Score	Why this score
Ownership ? Control rights: shareholder-dominated at 0, worker cooperative control at 10.	6 / 10	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. That places Authors Guild in the middle of Ownership: there is some mission, member, producer, or public-interest constraint, but decisive control is not fully democratic. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Governance ? Binding decision authority: centralized control at 0, democratic stakeholder control at 10.	6 / 10	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. That places Authors Guild in the middle of Governance: there are accountability mechanisms, but they stop short of broad democratic control. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Extraction ? Surplus allocation, wage share, CEO pay ratio, margins, and structured extraction judgment.	7 / 10	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. That places Authors Guild in the middle of Extraction: the institution creates real value but still leaves room for rent extraction, unequal bargaining, or surplus capture. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Labor Sovereignty ? Worker power: coercive conditions at 0, co-determination or ownership at 7. Employee dissatisfaction matters only when source-backed evidence shows concrete limits on worker agency, such as coercive scheduling, retaliation, wage theft, harassment, unsafe conditions, suppression of worker voice, or extreme turnover.	5 / 7	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. That places Authors Guild in the middle of Labor Sovereignty: workers or participants have some protection or agency, but not enough binding power to control the relationship. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Solidarity with the Unemployed ? Treatment of exits and nonworkers, including severance, redeployment, and non-competes.	5 / 7	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. That places Authors Guild in the middle of Solidarity with the Unemployed: some access, severance, retraining, openness, or mutual-aid value is present, but it is not central or durable. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Loss-Bearing Fidelity ? Willingness to absorb costs to preserve values, workers, users, and public obligations.	6 / 7	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Market Conduct ? Pricing fairness, switching costs, lock-in, and rent extraction.	4 / 5	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. That places Authors Guild high on Market Conduct: pricing, access, switching, and bargaining practices show restraint compared with ordinary rent-seeking competitors. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Product Integrity ? Preservation of quality rather than degradation for monetization.	5 / 5	The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. That places Authors Guild high on Product Integrity: the core offering is genuinely useful and comparatively less dependent on traps, degradation, or harmful dependencies. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]
Scale Integrity ? Whether growth improves or degrades fairness and accountability.	4 / 5	The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence context The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform. [1] context The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors. [2] context The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration. [3]

Penalties

Penalty	Applied	Why this penalty
Reversibility ? Applied when positive conduct depends on current living leaders, founders, family owners, or other person-contingent governance rather than durable structure. Range: -5 to 0.	-5	Association effectiveness depends on leadership, member priorities, and funding. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence Association effectiveness depends on leadership, member priorities, and funding. [8]
Accountability Opacity ? Material opacity, reputation laundering, or hidden accountability structures that prevent public accountability. Range: -2 to 0.	-2	Internal governance and policy tradeoffs are only partly transparent to nonmembers. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence Internal governance and policy tradeoffs are only partly transparent to nonmembers. [9]

Bonus Credits

Bonus	Credit	Why this credit
Openness to Dissent ? Credit for tolerating internal, user, customer, worker, and public dissent without retaliation, capture, or viewpoint laundering.	1 / 3	Author-rights advocacy supports dissent against platform, publisher, and contractual overreach. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence Author-rights advocacy supports dissent against platform, publisher, and contractual overreach. [4]
Constitutional Spirit ? Credit for respecting constitutional rights and civil-liberties norms even where private law does not strictly require it.	2 / 3	The Authors Guild’s free-expression and copyright advocacy supports public-sphere and civil-liberties norms. The Authors Guild’s free-expression and copyright advocacy supports public-sphere and civil-liberties norms. That supports partial Constitutional Spirit credit because the institution respects speech, privacy, due process, conscience, or civil-liberties norms beyond bare legal compulsion. The value remains partial because the linked record does not show the practice as comprehensive, durable, or central enough for full credit. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence The Authors Guild’s free-expression and copyright advocacy supports public-sphere and civil-liberties norms. [5]
Good Deal ? Credit for unusually fair value: durable quality, fair pricing, low lock-in, and clear customer surplus.	1 / 3	Membership resources and public advocacy create real value for working writers. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence Membership resources and public advocacy create real value for working writers. [6]
Cost Transparency ? Credit for clear posted prices, all-in fees, unit costs, public rate cards, margin/cost visibility, or surplus-allocation transparency, especially in markets where opaque quotes, hidden fees, or individualized pricing are normal.	1 / 3	Contract and author-income resources improve visibility into publishing economics. Calibration notes Comparative anchor: Author-resource follow-up; calibrated against author associations, author-owned alternatives, proprietary tools, retailer platforms, and vanity/monopoly services. Uncertainty Focused author-resource pass; later review should add more pricing, labor, author-contract, and user-outcome evidence. Linked evidence Contract and author-income resources improve visibility into publishing economics. [7]

Confidence Basis

Confidence is computed from the evidence trail and review state, not typed into the profile by hand.

Medium 67/100

10 verified linked claims 8 direct axis claims 0 disputed claims 8/15 components covered

This confidence label measures the source-backed evidence trail. AI-scaffolded scores remain tentative until human review.

Claim confidence 13/20

10 verified linked claims

Source quality 10/18

Best source per verified claim, weighted by institutional reliability

Direct axis-specific claims 9/18

8 direct claims across 15 active components

Dispute load 12/12

0 disputed claims on this entity

Recency 10/10

Newest accepted timestamp: May 13, 2026

Reviewer status 7/12

Human-reviewed components score higher than AI scaffolding

Component coverage 5/10

8/15 evidence-bearing components have direct support

Evidence State

Profile stateAI draft / human-pending

VerificationUnverified

ConfidenceMedium confidence (AI)

ThoroughnessDeveloped (AI)

Correction routeUse “Challenge this rating” for factual errors, missing counterevidence, source problems, or calculation mistakes.

Company responseCompany representatives can submit source-backed corrections; payment never changes scores or reviewer authority.

Claims and Sources

Claims are the evidence record. Each claim needs a source link, axis category, status, confidence level, and timestamp before it can support a score.

* Tentative scaffolding score. Not human-checked or final.

1The Authors Guild is a nonprofit professional association for writers rather than a publisher or retail platform.

Ownership Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

2The Authors Guild provides advocacy, contract guidance, legal resources, model clauses, and public-policy work for authors.

Product Integrity Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

3The organization improves author bargaining power but does not itself solve publishing ownership or distribution concentration.

Calculation Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

4Author-rights advocacy supports dissent against platform, publisher, and contractual overreach.

Openness To Dissent Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

5The Authors Guild’s free-expression and copyright advocacy supports public-sphere and civil-liberties norms.

Constitutional Spirit Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

6Membership resources and public advocacy create real value for working writers.

Good Deal Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

7Contract and author-income resources improve visibility into publishing economics.

Cost Transparency Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

8Association effectiveness depends on leadership, member priorities, and funding.

Reversibility Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

9Internal governance and policy tradeoffs are only partly transparent to nonmembers.

Accountability Opacity Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 8, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors GuildGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

10Authors Guild's public materials state a mission, values, ownership model, advocacy role, or institutional standpoint plainly enough that this record does not identify penalty-level neutrality theater.

Ideological Disavowal Verified Medium confidence AI-generated / human-pending May 9, 2026

AI scaffold

Authors Guild official siteGeneral web source · 58%
Authors Guild advocacyGeneral web source · 58%

Alternatives

Competitors

AGOOD60 Bookshare / Benetech nonprofit accessible-ebook library · same market AGOOD59 Creative Commons international nonprofit commons steward · same market AGOOD57 Internet Archive nonprofit digital library · same market AGOOD56 AK Press worker-owned independent book publisher and distributor · same market AGOOD55 Little Free Library nonprofit neighborhood book-sharing network · same market AGOOD54 Consumer Reports independent nonprofit member organization · same market AGOOD53 Wikimedia Foundation nonprofit · same market BQUALIFIED48 Autonomous Press worker-owned independent book publisher · same market

Help Improve This Profile

Submit source-backed evidence or challenge a specific claim, source, axis value, or calculation below.

How This Page Is Maintained

Evidence comes in through contributors, is checked by verifiers, and is synthesized by reviewers. Founder authority remains narrow and visible; scores recalculate when verified claims or the rubric change.

Civic Note

Incorporation, limited liability, market access, and other institutional privileges are public grants. Good Companies Directory treats those privileges as conditional on accountability to workers, users, communities, and the public.

Submit evidence for Authors Guild Add one source-backed fact for review.

Challenge this rating Point to a specific score, claim, source, or calculation problem.

Audit Log

Recent public changes for this company or group. The full audit log is part of the Transparency record.

No company-specific audit entries have been published yet.

View Full Audit Log