Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Massachusetts

Hello. In May, 2015, a publisher of a magazine accepted for publication my book review. He said that he would publish it in June, 2015. This did not happen. In subsequent emails, he kept guaranteeing me that my review would be published in July, August, October. The October issue came out today and my review is not in it so I emailed him once again asking what had happened. He now says my review will appear in the November 29, 2015 issue. I highly doubt that he is going to publish it ever and his repeated assurances that the piece will be published has prevented me from submitting it to other publications and is causing me mental distress and anxiety as I have been waiting since May for the review to be published. I even wonder if the man is playing with my mind as he has made similar promises to other writers but has published their works. I also feel like the review of the book, published in Spring, 2014, has lost its topicality due to the many delays this publisher has heaped on me. Who wants to now read a review of a book almost two years old ? Do I have legal recourse against this publisher ?


Asked on 10/26/15, 12:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lawrence Graves Coolidge & Graves PLLC

Chalk this up to bad experience. You can certainly post the facts of this bad conduct so that other authors can be cautious, but absent a contract that obliges publication there is no practical remedy in law. Yes, the material is now likely so stale that it would be irrelevant unless the review coincides with paperback edition release of the underlying book. Best wishes,

LDWG

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Answered on 10/27/15, 7:06 am


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