Articles

Business Operations · Article | 12.13.23 The Crucial Role of Information Systems in Book Publishing
by María Jesús Aguilo

Whether you’re embarking on your journey to create market-ready books or already have an...

Business Operations · Legal · Article | 06.06.23 What’s the Actual Value of Your Business?
by Miriam Warren

2023 continues as a fourth off-trend year. The overall increase in the number of books published...

Legal · Article | 07.01.20 Publishing Law in the Time of COVID-19
by Jonathan Kirsch

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2020 by Jonathan Kirsch, the Law Offices of Jonathan Kirsch -- ...

Legal · Article | 03.02.16 10 Tips for Crafting an Equitable and Secure Publishing Contract: A Rebuttal
by Georgia McBride

This blog post is in response to the January 2016 Independent article 10 Tips for Crafting an...

Legal · Article | 02.01.16 10 Tips for Crafting an Equitable and Secure Publishing Contract
by Mary Rasenberger

PUBLISHED JANUARY 2016 by Mary Rasenberger, Executive Director, Authors Guild On March 3,...

Legal · Article | 01.06.14 Basic Moves for Movie and TV Deals
by Kate Murray; Tad Crawford

No matter how thrilling it seems to have a film or television producer express interest in your...

Business Operations · Article | 11.01.12 The Work-for-Hire Minefield
by Steve Gillen

Do you think that any book written for a fixed fee is a work-for-hire...and that any book...

Distribution · Article | 09.30.12 Legal Pitfalls of Distribution and Fulfillment Contracts
by Nanci L. Danison

The Woodward family got into publishing by going to the dogs, founder Charlene Woodward said...

Legal · Article | 04.01.11 Author Warranties: Options for Contract Clauses
by Steve Gillen

Your book publishing contract probably includes provisions that require the author to make...

Legal · Article | 07.31.04 When an Agent Wants a Never-ending Deal
by Paul Aiken

Certain literary agencies include an "interminable agency" clause in their agreements...

Legal · Article | 08.31.02 Important Issues for Children's Book Publishers
by Ivan Hoffman

Several issues are more significant for publishers of children’s books than for publishers...

Distribution · Article | 06.01.02 Distribution Contracts: Steps to Take to Protect Your Inventory
by Lloyd L. Rich

Entering into an agreement with a distributor, or a publisher acting as a distributor, can be an...

Legal · Article | 03.01.02 Marketing Provisions in Book Contracts
by Ivan Hoffman

Book contract provisions that have to do with marketing and promotion can appear in various...

Legal · Article | 08.01.01 Out of Print Provisions in Book Contracts
by Ivan Hoffman

What constitutes "out of print" in the world of print books and now-with the advent of...

Editorial · Article | 01.01.01 On-Demand Printing Contract Provisions
by Ivan Hoffman -Publishing Attorney

PUBLISHED JANUARY 2001 With the already happening revolution in printing, what sorts of...

Legal · Article | 04.30.99 Out-of-Print Clauses in the Print-on-Demand Era
by Jonathan Kirsch

Editor's Note: Beginning with this issue of the "PMA Newsletter," Jonathan Kirsch,...

Design · Article | 04.01.99 The Cover Artist/Illustrator Contract
by Ivan Hoffman

In what appears to be a frequently occurring situation, publishers seem to pay cover...

Legal · Article | 12.31.97 Book Club Clauses in Publishing Contracts
by Ivan Hoffman, Publishing Attorney

PUBLISHED JANUARY 1998 Book clubs can be a source of additional and even substantial income...

Legal · Article | 07.31.96 The Best Books on Publishing Law and Book Contracts
by John B. McHugh

As a publisher, you need to understand publishing law. If your publishing responsibility is new...