Harri István Mäki, a Finnish author, recently resigned from the Finnish Authors' Guild following allegations that his works, including "Loitsu," "Paras mahdollinen," and "Peilipatsas," were plagiarized. The publisher Helmivyö announced that they have removed all of Mäki's books from sale, including a collection of short stories titled "Enkeli tupakkasalongissa," although this particular work is not currently suspected of plagiarism. Mäki's resignation from the Guild was confirmed by its chairman, Ville Hytönen, who stated that it was a voluntary decision.

In 2022, Mäki received a notable award from the Finnish Authors' Guild, the Tirlittan Award for children's and young adult literature, in recognition of his contributions to Finnish literature, accompanied by a prize of 10,000 euros. The award's recent controversy has prompted the Authors' Guild to consider reevaluating its decision regarding the award as the board is set to meet in April to discuss the implications of the plagiarism allegations on Mäki’s standing and the integrity of the prize itself.

This situation highlights the serious implications of plagiarism allegations in the literary community, especially for authors who achieve significant recognition. The financial and reputational consequences for Mäki could be substantial as he navigates these challenges, while the Authors' Guild must manage its reputation and the integrity of its awards in light of these developments.