Re: Simon & Schuster rights grab

**"* L* <t*@earthlink.net>**

Margaret: My agent informs me that S&S is backing off from that proposition 
at least for agented material. Best, Peter

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Margaret Lauterbach" <melauter@earthlink.net>
To: "Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum" 
<gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 6:13 PM
Subject: Re: [GWL] Simon & Schuster rights grab

> I'd like to see some responses to Graham Rice's post of yesterday
> regarding Simon & Schuster's change in contract language.  Hasn't it
> been customary to contract for first (and perhaps second) North
> American rights?  Isn't this "you're fastened to this firm forever"
> redolent of Rodale?  Thanks, Margaret Lauterbach
>
>>Simon & Schuster has changed its standard contract language in an
>>attempt to retain exclusive control of books even after they have
>>gone out of print.  Until now, Simon & Schuster, like all other major
>>trade publishers, has followed the traditional practice in which
>>rights to a work revert to the author if the book falls out of print
>>or if its sales are low.
>>
>>The publisher is signaling that it will no longer include minimum
>>sales requirements for a work to be considered in print.  Simon &
>>Schuster is apparently seeking nothing less than an exclusive grant
>>of rights in perpetuity.  Effectively, the publisher would co-own
>>your copyright.
>>
>>The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in
>>print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it's available in
>>any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no
>>copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores.
>>
>>There have been further announcements on this topic from the Authors
>>Guild, and from Simon & Schuster; these can be found on their website
>>at http://www.authorsguild.org.
>>
>>It just seems to me that as it gets more and more difficult to make a
>>living as a writer, this is another example of a publisher looking
>>after itself and not looking after its authors. Having had the rights
>>to a number of my older books revert to me - and one revised and
>>republished, with the possibility of revisions to two more also being
>>republished - I'm glad that the Authors Guild is taking this issue so
>>seriously.
>>
>>Graham Rice
>
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