Random House Suit Brings Renewed Push For 'E-Book' Rights in Older Contracts

The e-book format continues to be a growing force in book publishing. Worldwide sales are predicted to reach nearly $10 billion by 2016 ' compared to $3.2 billion in 2011. Current publishing agreements offered by book publishers unambiguously transfer electronic rights as well as print rights. But whether licenses granted by authors in older book publishing agreements can be construed to embrace this new technology is a major question for the industry. The answer will determine whether traditional publishers, or authors and the digital startups that some of them now choose to license to, will control e-book publishing of lucrative classic titles. This

31 minute read March 30, 2012 at 10:14 AM
By
Michael I. Rudell and Neil J. Rosini
Random House Suit Brings Renewed Push For 'E-Book' Rights in Older Contracts

The e-book format continues to be a growing force in book publishing. Worldwide sales are predicted to reach nearly $10 billion by 2016 ' compared to $3.2 billion in 2011.

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