diff --git a/oml/item/models.py b/oml/item/models.py
index 95245d6..012479d 100644
--- a/oml/item/models.py
+++ b/oml/item/models.py
@@ -687,6 +687,8 @@ class File(db.Model):
             author = 'Unknown Author'
         if ' (Ed.)' in author:
             author = author.replace(' (Ed.)', '') + ' (Ed.)'
+        if author > 255:
+            author = 'Various Authors'
         title = j.get('title', 'Untitled')
         extension = j['extension']