Publisher Agreements
Understanding your rights as the author and how to understand and suggest revisions to the agreement/contract from the publisher.
For help finding or understanding publisher agreements please contact Ellen Amatangelo, ellen_amatangelo@byu.edu.
Definition:
A legal contract between authors and publishers that outlines the terms under which a work can be published.
Copyright Transfer:
When a copyright is transferred to a publisher it gives the publisher exclusive rights to publish the work.
License Agreement:
An agreement can be made which allows the publisher to publish the work while at the same time allowing the author to retain certain rights.
Author’s Responsibilities:
The author is responsible for making sure the work is original and that it is properly cited.
Publisher’s Responsibilities:
The publisher is responsible for editing and reviewing the work. They are then responsible for the distribution of the work.
Negotiations:
Authors are encouraged to negotiate any aspects of the contract they would like to see changed. (SPARC Addendum: https://sparcopen.org/our-work/author-rights/brochure-html/.)
Termination Clauses:
An agreement can be terminated if there is a breach of contract. It’s important for authors to read the contract carefully and, if needed, seek the advice of legal experts or their university to ensure the contract accurately reflects their intentions.