Book Contracts:  Part Three

Rights:

Unfortunately publishers are starting to squeeze an author's rights severely.  An author used to be able to keep 100% of a number of rights Now many publishers want 50-50.  It's important that you that you examine every clause carefully and negotiate those you need to change. Copyright in the publisher's name is always any deal breaker.  I've had to walk away from several days. 

·         First rights: The right to publish an excerpt in a magazine or newspaper before the book comes out.  the author and nearly always so got 100% of this, now it's not so certain. If the publishers ask for 50-50 you need to try to negotiate that down.

·         Second rights: second rights. The right to publish an excerpt in a magazine or newspaper after the book comes out.  This is always 50-50 between the publisher and the author.

·         Serial rights: the right to publish several excerpts from your book in a newspaper or magazine.  50/50.

·         Foreign language rights the right to sell your book to a foreign country.  Used to be 75/25 to 100% for the author, now generally 50/50.  

·         Paperback reprint: the right to sell your book for reprint (mostly mass paper).  Frequently a book will be printed in hardcover, then come out months or a year or so later as a mass paperback.  This is generally 50-50 between author and publisher.                                                                                

·         Performance rights: Ordinarily the author received 100% of these rights now it's frequently 50-50.  One of my own books was made into an industrial movie for good fee.  It is worthwhile to try to negotiate 100% of this

·         Merchandising rights: sometimes a book lends itself to the sale of products.  It is worthwhile to try to negotiate 100% of this.

·         Audio/visual rights:                                               50/50 to 100