PubLaw | Writers In The Storm

“Busting” Some Popular Copyright Myths

Guest Blogger — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 11:00:09 +0000

Susan Spann Copyright law can be confusing for authors, especially when it comes to issues like when (and whether) to register copyright in a manuscript, and what to do if you use a pseudonym. While authors need to understand the basics of copyright, myths and disinformation abound (especially on the Internet). Today, let’s take a look […]

The post “Busting” Some Popular Copyright Myths first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Merchandising Rights in Publishing Deals

Guest Blogger — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:00:06 +0000

Susan Spann This is the third in a subsidiary rights series. If you missed one of the posts, click to read the first or the second article. In publishing, “merchandising rights” refers to the right(s) to create, market, and sell merchandise (products) based on a book or its characters and settings. “Jurassic Park” T-shirts and Bertie Botts’ […]

The post Merchandising Rights in Publishing Deals first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Show Me the Money: Royalties in Anthology Contracts

Guest Blogger — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:00:38 +0000

Susan Spann The year is drawing to a close, but our series on anthology contracts is going strong. Today, it’s time to say “show me the money” - and look at some of the different royalty structures in the anthology world. Some anthologies pay the contributors royalties, while others offer a flat fee, and still […]

The post Show Me the Money: Royalties in Anthology Contracts first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Spotting—and Avoiding– “Pay to Play” Publishing Contracts

Guest Blogger — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 11:00:45 +0000

Susan Spann In recent months, I’ve seen the resurgence of several terrible publishing “offers” that business-savvy authors should learn to recognize and avoid. Some people might call them “scams” – though these particular “deals” are legal if an author signs them. They remind me of my law school contracts professor’s warning that “you can make […]

The post Spotting—and Avoiding– “Pay to Play” Publishing Contracts first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

The Copyright Naughty List

Guest Blogger — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 12:00:32 +0000

Susan Spann Happy Holidays! ‘Tis the season to stay off the copyright “naughty list,” so I’m here to share a few #PubLaw tips for avoiding copyright infringement in your holiday blogging and social media celebrations! When celebrating online this holiday season, keep these helpful rules in mind: SONGS (AND LYRICS) ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT At […]

The post The Copyright Naughty List first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

But What Does a Literary Trustee DO? (Part 1)

Guest Blogger — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:00:43 +0000

Today Writers in the Storm welcomes back guest blogger Susan Spann, as she continues her PubLaw series about your literary estate. If you've missed her previous instructive posts in this series, click on the title: How to Choose a Literary Executor, and Do You Need a Literary Executor? by Susan Spann So far, our look […]

The post But What Does a Literary Trustee DO? (Part 1) first appeared on Writers In The Storm.