Reversion of Rights
Published on Nov 25, 2015
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Reversion of Rights
Getting your rights back
For many authors, getting their rights back from a publisher seems like a daunting task. In truth, if the contract is negotiated properly in the beginning, reversion of rights should not be as painful as it sounds.
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The 5 Ws of Reversion
- How & Why do rights revert?
- When will rights revert?
- Which rights will revert?
- What do I do next?
Today, we'll go over the 5 Ws of Reversion.
Once a book is no longer earning a profit for the author, the rights to that book should revert to the author. Some contracts though have life of copyright terms with no out of print clause and vague terminology that allow the publisher the rights to the book perpetuity. It's important to know, understand and negotiate the right terms for your client so they can get those rights back when the book is no longer selling.
Once a book is no longer earning a profit for the author, the rights to that book should revert to the author. Some contracts though have life of copyright terms with no out of print clause and vague terminology that allow the publisher the rights to the book perpetuity. It's important to know, understand and negotiate the right terms for your client so they can get those rights back when the book is no longer selling.
"If you put a recently published book and a recently picked tomato side by side on a shelf, there's a good likelihood the book will rot first."
—Richard Curtis
We used to measure book life in years but today, we project the age of many books in weeks. When authors once asked, how they could keep their books in print for a long period time, they are now asking how quickly can I get my rights back.
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How & Why do
rights revert?
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When will rights revert?
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Which is Which
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Primary rights including print and digital will revert first
Secondary rights including audio, will take longer
Untitled Slide
- Review executed contract
- Write reversion request letter
- Follow up with publisher
- Revise ms for reprint
Make sure to have a signed copy of the contract on hand. Use the language in the contract in your reversion request letter then follow up with the publisher if you don't get a response within 48 hours of email (10 business days of snail mail).
Get your client to start editing the manuscript before it's pitched again. This is a great time to fix those things you wanted to do the first time around.
Get it ready for pitching.
Get your client to start editing the manuscript before it's pitched again. This is a great time to fix those things you wanted to do the first time around.
Get it ready for pitching.
