Selling Rights

Lynette Owen OBE is a freelance specialist in copyright, rights and licensing issues and a consultant on the promotion and sale of rights in print and digital environments. She is the general editor of, and a contributor to, Clark’s Publishing Agreements: A Book of Precedents (11th edition, 2022). She was previously Copyright Director of Pearson Education and has also worked for Cambridge University Press, Pitman Publishing and Marshall Cavendish. She has chaired the Publishers Association Rights Group and is also a member of a number of industry committees.

• Acknowledgements and further readingPrefaceChapter 1: Rights: The historical and legal backgroundChapter 2: The publishing contract: who should control the rights? Chapter 3: An expanding range of possibilities Chapter 4: The rationale behind rights sales Chapter 5: Selling rights: who and how? Chapter 6: Tackling the task: essentialsChapter 7: Rights selling: a range of methods Chapter 8: Book fairs and sales trips: preparation, survival and follow-up Chapter 9: English-language territorial rights: co-editions and licences Chapter 10: Book club rightsChapter 11: Paperback rights Chapter 12: Low-price reprint rights Chapter 13: Other reprint rights Chapter 14: Serial rights and one-shot periodical rightsChapter 15: Digest and condensation rights Chapter 16: Translation rights: co-editions and licences Chapter 17: Anthology and quotation rightsChapter 18: Rights for the reading-impaired Chapter 19 Non-dramatized reading rightsChapter 20: Audio-recording and video-recording rights Chapter 21: Dramatization and documentary rights: stage, radio, television and film rights Chapter 22: Merchandising rights Chapter 23: Collective licensingChapter 24: The internet and publishing Chapter 25: Electronic publishing and digital licensingChapter 26: Supply of duplicate production material to licensees Appendix 1: Glossary of common terms used in rightsAppendix 2: Member states of the international copyright conventions Appendix 3: Countries currently outside membership of any international copyright conventionAppendix 4: Territories often sought as exclusive by British publishers Appendix 5: Useful names and addresses

‘Selling Rights (9th Edition) is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in publishing and rights management… Owen's clear and comprehensive approach makes this book an essential tool for understanding the complexities of rights transactions in today's global market. The 9th edition is undoubtedly an essential read for anyone looking to navigate the modern publishing landscape with confidence.’- Avril Cuthbert, Independent Publishers Guild‘Owen has distilled her extensive knowledge and experience into a one stop handbook, providing essential background, practical tools, and timely insights for aspiring publishers or seasoned acquisitions and sales professionals navigating the uncertain waters of copyright, rights, and licensing today. The considerable updates in this new edition will provide publishers with an exhaustive guide to the latest legal, professional, and international developments relating to contemporary rights sales.’- Polly Silk, Logos Praise for the eighth edition:‘Selling Rights really is the go-to resource for everything you need to know about rights licensing.’- Ruth Tellis, BookBrunch‘Owen's meticulous book has served as a steady guide to rights licensing professionals inside publishing companies and literary agencies-especially in the UK where the book is written and published. As an American reader, and longtime user of various editions of this guide, I can say I have also found much that is completely relevant and useful for rights licensors and licensees on this side of the pond.’- Kristin Klimann, Publishing Research Quarterly‘Selling Rights… remains as important for rights professionals today as it was when the first edition was published back in 1991. In those 28 years, it is a work that has provided great service to the publishing industry, offering highly practical advice to those engaged in negotiating sub-licences… Armed with a copy of the 8th edition of Selling Rights and its eminently clear and practical advice on all aspects of rights trading, we can be sure that rights professionals will be well set to tackle the uncertainties that lie ahead.- Clare Hodder, Learned Publishing‘Selling Rights by Lynette Owen… is the ultimate guide to licensing subsidiary rights in the publishing sector and has been relied upon by industry professionals for over 30 years now… To describe the book as invaluable would understate the role that its practical information and advice played.’- Amy Joyner, Logos‘Selling Rights is a convenient and accessible handbook that answers just about every conceivable question about the subject. This bible of information is now in its eighth edition from Routledge, and whether you work in trade, academic or specialist publishing, it is the next best thing to having Lynette on hand to help you. The book includes all the practical advice needed to sell rights, whether you are just starting out in the field or are a seasoned professional with many book fairs under your belt.’- Caroline de la Bedoyere, Independent Publishers Guild