Key Developments in International Publishing: October 26, 2026

This week’s headlines highlight several key developments: Japan continues its efforts to support manga internationally; two new companies are innovating in the agenting sector; Hollywood is increasingly acquiring untold stories; a proposed tax in France targets major players in the book industry; a major Brazilian bookstore chain is expanding; and Amazon's recent figures illustrate the ongoing growth of self-publishing.

**Japan's Manga Initiative**

According to Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan is exploring the creation of a shared digital platform for manga that would combine catalogs from various publishers and employ AI-assisted translation to enhance global distribution. Currently, only about 3–4% of Japanese manga titles are officially translated in regions like North America. The proposal also includes a revenue-sharing model and government backing for content production and international marketing, with discussions planned by Japan's Ministry of Finance about this initiative in preparation for the fiscal 2027 budget.

Japanese startup Orange has also expanded its AI-assisted manga platform, emaqi, into the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, bringing its total to six English-speaking markets. The platform provides licensed manga from several publishers and combines AI translation with professional localization.

Continuing its push to bring Japanese manga directly to international audiences, the manga industry displays a diverse range of distribution services. For instance, emaqi and VIZ Manga operate in six major English-speaking countries, while Crunchyroll Manga reaches 13 nations. Compared to others, some services like MANGA Plus distribute in nine languages across wide regions, underscoring Japan's ambitions to broaden its international manga footprint.

**Innovation from Literary Agents**

Two companies are adding innovative approaches to intellectual property development. Former Amazon executives launched Seattle-based Macguffin Co., an IP studio aimed at creating original, book-centered entertainment franchises. This venture tests concepts with reader communities and allows publishers to invest in franchises with reduced upfront risk. Meanwhile, Seoul-based Infiniction is localizing Korean web novels for international platforms, with 30 titles released by July 2026 and rights secured for over 100 works. Both companies exemplify new strategies for content commercialization in the publishing industry.

**Hollywood's Short Story Acquisitions**

The New York Times reported that Hollywood studios are purchasing unpublished short stories for substantial sums, reflecting a diminishing interest from traditional publishers in acquiring short fiction collections. Recent acquisitions include Nicholas Binge's Understudy by Netflix and Colin Bannon's Long Lost by Universal. As inquiries for international stories have dramatically increased, the trend raises questions about whether publishers should pay more attention to short fiction and translated works.

**Proposed Taxes on Book Industry Giants in France**

French lawmakers are considering a new tax on large book industry players as part of the 2027 budget. Proposed by MP Sarah Legrain, the tax would impose a 1% levy on publishers and online booksellers with revenues over €50 million ($56.2 million), along with a €0.10 ($0.11) tax per new book pulped. Other MPs have proposed taxes of 2.25% and 3.75% to fund support for smaller publishers and independent bookstores, raising questions about the balance between market competitiveness and cultural preservation.

**Audiobook Market in the Balkans**

Polish audiobook company Audioteka has acquired a majority stake in Serbian platform Knjigapriča, enhancing its presence in the Balkans. Founded in 2019, Knjigapriča offers around 400 audiobooks and plans to invest in local content and expansion. The growing competition in the region, including moves by Romania's Voxa and Spotify, highlights a burgeoning market for audiobooks.

**Audiobook Consumption in Australia**

According to NielsenIQ BookData, nearly half of Australian audiobook listeners are paying subscribers, with over half having tried audiobooks in the last two years. Recommendations and website browsing are primary methods for discovering titles. Despite potential barriers like narration quality and the affordability of audiobooks, the market holds significant growth potential.

**Brazil's Livrarias Curitiba Expansion**

Livrarias Curitiba, a 63-year-old Brazilian bookstore chain, plans to grow from 27 to 33 locations by 2027 after a revenue increase of 9.53% in 2025, reaching R$385 million ($75.7 million). The company attributes its success to social media and the resurgence of interest in physical bookstores among younger generations. This growth occurs against a backdrop of previous industry challenges, signaling resilience in Brazilian bookselling.

**Concerns Over AI Training in South Korea**

South Korean publishers are advocating for transparency and proper compensation regarding books used to train AI, following a significant acquisition by Anthropic. The Korea Publishers Society has launched a campaign demanding rights holder consent and fair remuneration, reflecting a larger, global conversation on the intersection of publishing and AI technology.

**The Unaccounted $5 Billion in Self-Publishing**

Amazon's Kindle Unlimited is projected to surpass $5 billion in cumulative payments to self-published authors and small presses by November 2026. This substantial figure highlights the industry's growing need to recognize self-publishing in market statistics, emphasizing that existing data may not accurately portray the industry landscape due to Amazon's limited data sharing.

**Additional Observations**

Among other topics noted this week: a Swedish library faced issues after a young patron borrowed an inappropriate book; Polish publishing professionals opposed proposed fixed book pricing; and Naver Webtoon reported significant successes, surpassing 300 million downloads and generating substantial in-app revenue.