diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/iliad/driver.py b/src/calibre/devices/iliad/driver.py
index 1b007fc30b..0dcc18e63b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/iliad/driver.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/iliad/driver.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class ILIAD(USBMS):
 
     name           = 'IRex Iliad Device Interface'
     description    = _('Communicate with the IRex Iliad eBook reader.')
-    author         = _('John Schember')
+    author         = 'John Schember'
     supported_platforms = ['windows', 'linux']
 
     # Ordered list of supported formats
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/irexdr/driver.py b/src/calibre/devices/irexdr/driver.py
index bdc77b3193..02222ae56b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/irexdr/driver.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/irexdr/driver.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ class IREXDR1000(USBMS):
     name           = 'IRex Digital Reader 1000 Device Interface'
     description    = _('Communicate with the IRex Digital Reader 1000 eBook ' \
         'reader.')
-    author         = _('John Schember')
+    author         = 'John Schember'
     supported_platforms = ['windows', 'osx', 'linux']
 
     # Ordered list of supported formats
diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/usbms/driver.py b/src/calibre/devices/usbms/driver.py
index 94309e747e..5ade700b7f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/usbms/driver.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/usbms/driver.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class USBMS(CLI, Device):
     '''
 
     description    = _('Communicate with an eBook reader.')
-    author         = _('John Schember')
+    author         = 'John Schember'
     supported_platforms = ['windows', 'osx', 'linux']
 
     # Store type instances of BookList and Book. We must do this because