On May 28, 2015, at Book Expo America in New York City, the Author’s Guild announced an ambitious new program — a must-read for every writer — named The “Fair Contract Initiative.” This initiative is a series of commentaries that will take “a fresh look at the standard book publishing contract.” According to the announcement, … Continue reading Authors Guild Announces Fair Contract Initiative
Q. I wrote my (ex) publisher asking for reversion of my rights for my out of print books. The time period specified in the contract has passed and I still haven’t heard back. I sent an email referencing the letter and my request and got no response to that, either. In that email I said … Continue reading Q&A: Reversion of Rights
Q. I’m self-publishing my out-of-print novel, in both digital and print. Please tell me about “foreign rights” and “foreign licensing deals.” A. Foreign rights are typically part of the “subsidiary rights” of your copyright, and can take different forms (also called “translation rights”). Foreign rights, as a whole, are the granting, (or “licensing”) of your … Continue reading Q&A: Foreign Rights
Q. How do I get e-book rights for my out of print books published before the days of e-books? A. As always, the answer exists in your publishing agreement. You must closely examine two sections: your “grant of rights” to the publisher and your “out of print” clause. There are four possible scenarios: 1. … Continue reading Q&A: E-book Rights
Merchandising rights are a frequently misunderstood (and often overlooked) part of publishing agreements. They are the right to market, sell, and license physical and tangible articles related to your copyright ownership, such as t-shirts, posters, action figures, games, etc. – even your book’s cover art. They are part of the cluster of “derivative” rights inherent … Continue reading Merchandising Rights
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