In the interest of transparency, we’re sharing this template of the contract use with authors who contribute to anthologies. If you’re considering signing up to work with us as a short story author, feel free to review this and contact us with questions. We ask authors to sign this contract once we and the author have agreed on a final story, since it depends on the final word count. 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 for Materials Submitted to (Anthology Title)
This contract is made between Duck Prints Press LLC, whose address is (OUR FULL ADDRESS), hereinafter referred to as the Publisher, and (AUTHOR NAME), whose address is (AUTHOR 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 story entitled “_(STORY TITLE)_,” a work of approximately _XX__words, hereinafter referred to as the Work, in an anthology titled (Anthology Title), hereafter referred to as the Anthology, to be published in print and eBook (PDF, Mobi, and ePub) formats.
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 and the Anthology. 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 First English Anthology Rights and First English Print Rights for publication in the English language anywhere in the world. These rights are granted for one year after the official publication date of the above-mentioned anthology, or until (DATE), whichever date is first. After this date, the Author may include the Work in other publications. It is understood and agreed that the Publisher may use this Work only in the Anthology.
2(b). This use of the Work by the Publisher entitles the assignment of First Electronic Publishing Rights in the English Language for one year after the official publication date of the Anthology, or until (DATE), whichever date is first. After this date, the Author may include the Work in other publications or publish it in other media formats. It is understood and agreed that the Publisher may use this Work only in the Anthology, and that this permission is granted on an ongoing basis in perpetuam, applicable to all future sales of the Anthology. The Publisher reserves the right to continue to sell electronic copies of the Anthology after the period of exclusivity has ended. The rights granted to the Publisher under this subsection pertain solely to the publication and dissemination of an electronic replica of the Work as incorporated into the e-book Anthology. The Publisher is not permitted to use the Work in any other publication or electronic format.
2(c). The Author retains all rights to the Work not specified here.
2(d). If the Publisher fails to publish the Anthology within 24 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 Author will be paid $0.01 US dollars per word, to a maximum of $50.00 for a story of 5,000 words. This amount is a minimum that may be raised contingent on successful crowd-sourced funding of the Anthology. If funds allow, the Author understands that this amount may be increased, up to a maximum of $0.08 US dollars per word, for a maximum of $400.00 for a story of 5,000 words. The Author will receive the minimum payment even if the Anthology is not successfully crowd-funded.
3(b). Payment will be sent to the Author either one month after the crowd-sourcing campaign ends, or on (DATE), whichever date is first.
3(c). The Author shall receive a complimentary copy of the eBook editions of the Anthology.
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, and has not been published before in any form, whether paid or unpaid, in print, electronic, or other formats not specifically enumerated here.
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 agrees to list a proper copyright notice for the Work in the name of the Author or their approved pseudonym in the front matter of the Anthology.
5(c). The Publisher will make no changes to the Work’s text without the express written approval (in e-mail or print) of the Author. Prior to publication, the Publisher’s proposed version will be given to the Author for approval. The Publisher reserves the right to make minor copy-editing and formatting changes to ensure that the Work conforms to the Anthology’s standard forms and usages.
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 (XX day of MONTH, YEAR)
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Author Date
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Publisher Date