A Book Publishing Contract is a legal agreement between an author and a publishing
company that grants rights to the publishing company to print and distribute the author's
work in particular regions or worldwide. This agreement contains the relevant, and
standard terms used in this type of agreement, but contains optional language that may
be input to customize the agreement so that it will fit the needs of the contracting
parties. The contract agreement is most useful for writers wishing to enter into a
publishing agreement with a publishing company or for a publishing company wishing to
enter into an agreement with a writer.
BOOK PUBLISHING CONTRACT
THIS BOOK PUBLISHING AGREEMENT dated as of the _______ day of
_______________, 20____, between __________________ [enter publishing company]
located at _______________________ (address), represented by ________________ (herein
called the “Publisher”) and _________________________, (the “Author”) located at
______________________ (address) hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Parties”
..
In consideration of the premises and of the mutual convenants and agreements
herein contained, the Parties hereto agree as follows regarding the novel entitled
“_________________” ( the “Book”) by written by Author.
I. GRANT OF THE RIGHTS
1.01 The Author hereby grants to the Publisher the sole and exclusive licence to
translate, print, publish and sell the Book, in both print and digital formats, at the sole expense of
the Publisher in trade volume from imprint format only in the _________________ language(s)
but limited to the territory(s) of __________________________________________.
1.02 All other rights in the Book whether now existing or which may hereafter come
into existence which are not expressly licenced in this Agreement are hereby reserved to and by
the Author, and Publisher shall not sell or otherwise make available copies of the Book in whole
or in part to any person, firm or company, other than as specifically authorized herein.
II. TERM OF LICENCE
2.01 The licence herein granted shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue
for a period of ___________ (___) years (the “Term”) and at the end of the Term, this
Agreement shall terminate. Upon termination of this Agreement, all of the rights granted to the
Publisher herein shall revert to Author, and Publisher shall no longer have the right manufacture
or sell copies of its edition of the Book; provided, however, that the Publisher may nevertheless
sell its existing stock of printed copies of the Publisher’s edition of the Book for one (1) year
following the termination of this Agreement, subject to payment to the Author of all applicable
royalties as hereinafter provided. The Publisher’s initial edition of the Book shall be published
under its ________________________ imprint[If applicable].
III. PAYMENTS TO AUTHOR
3.01 The Publisher shall pay to the Author as a non-refundable advance against all
royalties and all other income earned by the Author hereunder, the sum of
____________________ ($___________) Dollars, payble in full upon the execution of this
Agreement by the Publisher and the Author.
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3.02 Subject to the foregoing, the Author shall earn and the Publisher shall pay to the
Proprieptor royalties on all copies of Publisher’s edition at the rate of ______________ (___%)
percent on all print copies sold and at the rate of ______________ (___%) percent on all digital
versions (the “Royalties”).
IV. ACCOUNTING
4.01 Commencing on the _______ day of ___________ immediately following the
first publication of Publisher’s edition of the Book, or the first day that the Book is available for
digital download, the Publisher shall render annual statements of account as of
________________ in each year of the Term and shall mail such statements to the Author within
sixty (60) days of that date together with the payment of all Royalties then due and payable.
4.02 Author will have two (2) years from date of receipt of a statement of account to
object to same and one (1) year thereafter to bring suit. Author may request an audit of
Publisher’s books and records related to the manufacturing and sale of the Book by giving
Publisher a minimum of two (2) weeks written notice. The audit shall be held at Publisher’s
principal place of business as set forth above. Only one accounting shall be permitted per
calendar year. In the event that an audit reveals a discrepancy of more than five percent (5%),
Publisher shall be responsible to bear the costs of the audit and shall remit the payment to Author
immediately upon its receipt of an invoice.
V. DELIVERY
5.01 The Author shall supply to the Publisher with a digital file containing the Book
manuscript within ____ (____) days of receipt by Author of the advance.
VI. CHANGES TO THE BOOK
6.01 The Publisher may not expand, abridg