Legal Question in Technology Law in Washington

Hello, I am a published author whose contract has expired with the publisher. The publisher still sells my book online and of course I don't get paid.

My question is do I still have rights to my book and would I be able to convert it to an e-book? The book online now is not in e-book format, paper only.

Also what would it cost for me to have an attorney read my contract so I can understand it?

Thanks so much


Asked on 8/29/14, 5:42 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Charles Cruikshank Cruikshank Law Office-Since 1975

Your contract with the publisher determines your rights.

My policy is to conduct interviews with potential clients at no charge if we do not agree for me to work on the case. I could read the contract at an interview.

Regards,

Charlie Cruikshank

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Answered on 8/29/14, 7:41 pm
John Whitaker Whitaker Law Group

If you wrote the book, then you own the copyright in the book. If your contract expired, it would be highly, highly unusual for the publisher to be able to continue selling your book without compensating you. The contract could possibly have given the publisher that right, but I can't imagine it doing so.

The questions that need answering are whether you registered your copyright in the book already (meaning before the contract expired) and whether your contract grants the publisher the right to continue selling the book without compensation after expiration of the contract.

John Whitaker

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Answered on 9/04/14, 9:57 am


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