Q. What rights should I grant to my publisher? The standard book publishing agreement “Grant of Rights” clause commonly takes all “print” rights plus certain specified “subsidiary” rights – foreign, translation, book club, electronic, film & television, audio, dramatic, and periodical. Don’t skim over these clauses — they are the most important elements of your publishing agreement. Examine … Continue reading Q&A: Rights
Note: With the tough publishing market, many mystery novelists are turning their talents to film and video. Here are some of the common questions I receive: Q: I have a great idea for a screenplay about Elvis pretending to be dead so he can fulfill his ambition of being a secret agent. Since he really … Continue reading Q&A About Film Rights
Q. Should I negotiate the date of my novel’s publication? A. Yes! There always should be a limit to the amount of time a publisher has to publish your work. If no time frame is specified, you run a significant risk: What if the publisher runs into monetary problems, or reorganizes the types of books … Continue reading Q&A: Date of Publication
Q. It’s an unpleasant subject, but what should I know about estate planning? A. As a writer, you have an asset most people don’t: intellectual property (copyright and/or trademarks). First, however, you must understand the difference between the PHYSICAL ownership of your manuscripts and papers, and their COPYRIGHT ownership. As you should know from … Continue reading Estate Planning For Writers
Q. My latest publishing agreement includes an arbitration clause. Should I accept it? A. No. It sounds counter-intuitive, but litigation usually is a better option for authors (and consumers in general) than arbitration. Arbitration (not to be confused with mediation) is an “alternative” method of dispute resolution. In general, two disputing parties present … Continue reading Arbitration Clauses in Publishing
Q. What is cross-collateralization, and is there a cure? A. Cross-collateralization is an accounting concept (stay with me here) used in publishing agreements (and also commercial loans). It refers to the right of the publisher to charge your royalty account for any amount owing to the publisher under any other agreement. Unfortunately, many writers fail … Continue reading Q&A: Cross-collateralization