In today’s digital world, publishers often retain rights to ebooks and audio files along with print books, making it more difficult for authors to reclaim their work. To prepare yourself for the possibility of rights reversion, it is important to keep track of your royalty statements and sales figures every period. With commitment and determination, you can take back your rights and make your book a profitable part of your backlist.
At its most basic, rights reversion is an author’s opportunity to take back control over the book rights that they have signed over to a publisher. This typically includes digital eBooks and audio files, in addition to printed books.
While this may seem straightforward on the surface, there are a few important considerations that you should keep in mind when thinking about rights reversion for your book.
First, publishers will usually specify a certain time period within your contract before you can think about regaining control over your book rights. Generally, this will be anywhere from 2 to 5 years, depending on the specifics of your contract.
Second, publishers may also have certain sales thresholds that must be met before they will consider releasing rights back to you. This is often based on the amount of income that you are earning from the sale or licensing of your work and can vary widely depending on the specifics of your contract.
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that regaining control over your book rights can sometimes be a laborious process, and there may be legal action involved if all parties cannot come to an agreement. As such, it’s crucial that you commit to pursuing this option for your book if you want to regain control over its rights and make it a profitable part of your backlist.
So, if you are ready to take control over your book rights, start by scouring your royalty statements and tracking your sales every time that you receive a payment from your publisher. Only then can you begin the process of regaining control over your book rights and making the most of this valuable asset.
The bottom line is that rights reversion can be an important consideration for any author who wants to maximize the earning potential of their book. So if you are ready to take control over your book rights, start by doing your research and preparing yourself for this process. With the right commitment and preparation, you can make the most of your book and use it as a valuable part of your backlist for years to come.
