All writers aspire to have their book in print; however, the process of turning a manuscript into a published book involves several significant steps that the author should know. Finding a publisher is not a matter of handing in your draft, but of knowing the legal, creative and commercial obligations.
In case you would prefer to be published by a traditional publishing house, you would need a slight knowledge of the publishing contracts, the book ISBN, and the copyright laws. This is a guide that dissects the most important aspects that any writer ought to be conversant with before he or she signs an agreement and publishes a book to the world.
An agreement of publication is legally binding and is signed between an author and a publisher when a manuscript has been accepted. It also describes the needs, roles and entitlements of both parties. This contract will provide certainty in terms of ownership, payments, distribution and protection of the work of the author.
Copyrights & Ownership
Books and copyright go hand in hand. The ownership of the creative work is of the legal owner, which is decided by the copyright. The percentage or type of ownership is mutually agreed upon by the authors and publishers based on:
The genre of the book
The type of contract
The publisher's policy
Other rights, like translations or adaptations.
Royalty Structure
The contract stipulates the percentage of the royalty payments that an author gets on each sale.
Royalty may differ based on:
Hardcover vs. paperback
E-book sales
International editions
Audiobooks
Licensing & Permissions
All other rights can be found in the clauses of licensing, which include:
Translation rights
Adaptation rights for film or OTTs.
Distribution rights of various countries.
Audio and digital rights
The author and the publisher receive a profit out of these rights depending on the terms of the contract. After the deal has been concluded, the publisher also seeks an ISBN, which is the official name of the book in the global arena. This blog will lead you into more on the ISBN and copyright, and legal necessities that the authors need to know.
ISBN: The Abbreviation of International Standard Book Number- It is a universal book identifier that monitors the book editions, formats, and publishing information. It serves as an online ID tag for books.
An ISBN reveals:
The book's identity
Edition and format (e-book, hardcover, paperback)
Location of publication.
Publisher information
In traditional publishing, publishers normally request the issuance of an ISBN, which guarantees the use of different numbers in different editions.
Two forms of ISBNs may be used:
ISBN-10
Has 10 digits
Used before 2007
Now obsolete for new titles
ISBN-13
Has 13 digits
Norm of all books of modernity.
International product and barcode systems are compatible.
Five elements can be found in the ISBN-13: Prefix, Registration group (country/region of language), Registrant (publisher), Element of publication (title/version) and Check digit for validity. The ISBNs must be given out before the release, be it is a printed or e-book.
When you are self-publishing, it is your burden to apply for an ISBN code for books.
To get an ISBN in India:
Visit isbn.gov.in
Enter the title of your book and the name of the author.
Submit required documents
A distinctive ISBN number should be applied.
Upon approval, it needs to be printed on the copyright page, as well as on each copy of the book.
On such sites as Amazon Kindle (KDP), authors are self-publishing and can either use:
The free ASIN/ISBN alternative at Amazon, or
Get their own ISBN to have a broader distribution.
An ISBN Finder or ISBN Lookup service can assist you in finding the ISBN of a book and retrieve all the bibliographic information. The following are the common users of these tools:
Readers
Librarians
Bookstores
Publishers
Researchers
They guarantee proper cataloguing of international systems.
Once you have finished your manuscript, the other thing to do is to protect your copyright. Book copyright registration assures that your work cannot be duplicated and abused, or shared without your consent.
Copyright covers:
Books, journals, articles, etc.
Film and dramaturgical (film, script, animation) works.
Musical works
Artistic works
Under traditional publishing, the publishers usually assist in the process of copyright registration and even provide you with free book copyright. You must apply independently in the case of the self-published author according to the legal procedure of your country. Copyright lasts legally if it is legally spelt out and the time span differs in different countries. After this expiry, the work becomes a part of the public domain unless renewed or extended.
Authors should ensure:
Proper ISBN registration
Clear and equitable terms of the contract.
Copyright protection is legally guaranteed.
Knowledge about rights, licensing and royalties.
Not only does this help in avoiding plagiarism, but it also creates transparency, control and long-term benefits of your literary work.
The Double9 Books can assist you in publishing contracts, ISBNs for books, copyright assistance and full publishing services, including a manuscript to the marketplace. Don’t make your story just another amateur manuscript. Your work can be a published book with Double9 Books.
Question 1. Do I need an ISBN for an e-book?
Answer: Yes. Each edition, such as e-books, hardcovers, or paperbacks, must be assigned a unique ISBN code in case you intend global distribution.
Question 2. Am I allowed to publish without a contract?
Answer: No. Regardless of whether it is the traditional or hybrid type of publishing, a contract is a must to safeguard both the author and the publisher.
Question 3. What about the copyright of signing a publishing agreement?
Answer: The ownership is based on the terms of the contracts. Authors receive copyright, and most traditional publishers have limited rights to distribute their works.
Question 4. Is it possible to sell film or translation rights separately?
Answer: Yes, provided your contract will permit it. Other deals allow the authors to keep the right of adaptation, and some to share the revenue with the publisher.
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