In the interest of transparency, we’re sharing this template of the contract use with authors who publish with us. If you’re considering contacting us about a novel (…we don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts…), feel free to review this and contact us with questions. Please be aware that the version we’re sharing publicly is not final, not legally binding, and may be edited or modified before it is sent to authors for their signatures.
Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Licensing to Sell (BOOK TITLE)
This contract is made between Duck Prints Press LLC, whose address is (ADDRESS), hereinafter referred to as the Publisher, and (AUTHOR’S NAME), whose address is (AUTHOR’S ADDRESS), hereinafter referred to as the Author.
In consideration of mutual promises and forbearances, the parties agree as follows:
Author’s Grant.
1(a). The Author grants permission to include his/her/their novel entitled ” (BOOK TITLE) ,” a work of approximately XX words, hereinafter referred to as the Work, to be published in eBook (PDF, Mobi and ePub) format.
1(b). The Author grants the Publisher the right to use the Author’s chosen publication name and biographical material for advertising, promoting, or otherwise publicizing the Work. The Author may be asked to provide an image or likeness as well; the right to deny this request is retained by the Author. The Publisher shall only use personal information expressly provided and approved by the Author.
Rights Purchased.
2(a). This use of the Work by the Publisher entails the assignment of Exclusive Electronic Publication Rights and for publication in the English language anywhere in the world. These rights are granted for three year after the signing of this contract, or until (DATE), whichever date is first. After this date, the Author may choose to renew this contract with the Publisher, may choose to renegotiate the terms of this contract, or may choose to remove the Work from our catalog.
2(b). It is understood and agreed that the Publisher may only use the complete, unaltered version of the Work provided by the Author, and that the Author may choose to submit revisions or modifications throughout the period of this contract.
2(c). If for any reason, the Publisher is in breach of this contract, the Author may choose to withdraw their work from the Publisher’s catalog at any time.
2(d). The Author retains all rights to the Work not specified here.
2(e). If the Publisher fails to publish the Work within 3 months of the date of this agreement, all rights granted hereunder shall immediately revert to the Author. In such an event, the Author shall retain any payments made under this agreement.
Payments.
3(a). The Publisher will list the Work for (PRICE IN USD – note that we use standardized pricing based on length).
3(b). The Author will be paid royalties equal to 75% of the net profits earned through sales of the Work. The Publisher agrees to maintain all financial records necessary to accurately calculate the correct royalty payment, and to provide these records upon request.
3(c). Payments will be distributed to the Author within the first five business days of each month. The Author has chosen to receive these payments via bank transfer.
Authors’ Warranties and Indemnities.
4(a). The Author represents and warrants that he/she/they is the sole Author of the Work, and that no one has previously reserved the rights granted in this agreement. The Author also represents that, to the best of his/her/their knowledge, the Work does not contain any libelous material, is not in violation of any rights of privacy or any other rights of third persons, does not violate any existing common law or statutory copyrights.
4(b). The Author agrees to hold the Publisher harmless against any judgement finally sustained that the Work contains libel, plagiarism and/or invasion of privacy.
Copyright.
5(a). The Author retains copyright of the Work.
5(b). The Publisher will make no changes to the Work’s text without the express written approval (in e-mail or print) of the Author.
This agreement shall be interpreted under the laws of the State of New York in the United States of America.
By signing this contract, the Publisher and the Author acknowledge that each party has read and understood this contract prior to execution.
In witness whereof the parties have executed this contract on this (DATE),
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Author Date
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Publisher Date