Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law: For Authors, Publishers, Editors and Agents [Paperback]

Jonathan Kirsch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

Kirsch, a prominent intellectual property attorney and Los Angeles Times columnist, has created a clear, comprehensive, up-to-date guide to publishing law in this handbook, which follows the path of a publishing project. From protection of the original idea, coauthorship, agents, and packaging, through a clause-by-clause consideration of a typical book publishing contract, to legal aspects of manuscript preparation, copyright registration, electronic and subsidiary rights, remaindering, and reversion, this manual is as lively as it is useful. Sidebars provide anecdotes, tips, publishing 'war stories', and interesting illustrations of key points.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kirsch, a prominent intellectual property attorney and Los Angeles Times columnist, has created a clear, comprehensive, up-to-date guide to publishing law in this handbook, which follows the path of a publishing project. From protection of the original idea, coauthorship, agents, and packaging, through a clause-by-clause consideration of a typical book publishing contract, to legal aspects of manuscript preparation, copyright registration, electronic and subsidiary rights, remaindering, and reversion, this manual is as lively as it is useful. Sidebars provide anecdotes, tips, publishing "war stories," and interesting illustrations of key points. Reference librarians will find it answers many tough questions by demystifying complex legal concepts and presenting illustrative examples. Rounding out the volume is a sampling of legal forms the industry currently uses and a fine index. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.?Paul D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., Me.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A concise, highly accessible manual for authors, publishers, editors, and agents, covering the full range of legal issues in publishing, from idea protection through book development and publication to the final reversion ofrights. Includes a section of sample forms." -- Book News.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Acrobat Books; 1st edition (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918226333
• ISBN-13: 978-0918226334
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an invaluable resource for anyone in the publishing industry, October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law: For Authors, Publishers, Editors and Agents (Paperback)

Not only has this book saved me much time and money in research and legal fees, but the author makes the information accessible by offering myriad examples to back up his sage advice. I keep three books on my desk: the dictionary, the Chicago Manual of Style, and Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law. A classic.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise and practical., March 20, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law: For Authors, Publishers, Editors and Agents (Paperback)

As an editor with a small book publisher, I have found this volume invaluable. Along with basic information (written in a lively, engaging style that even makes legal issues interesting), the book contains many sidebars with answers to common questions, interesting case studies, and practical hints. Couldn't do without it

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kirsch makes publishing law easy to understand., July 14, 2003

By 

David A. Hall "David Hall" (Infinity Dental Web, Mesa, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kirsch's Handbook of Publishing Law: For Authors, Publishers, Editors and Agents (Paperback)

Jonathan Kirsch is an interesting combination: he is both a novelist and an attorney. He puts both skills to use in this book by creating an interesting, easy-to-read, easy-to-understand dissertation on all aspects of publishing law. The book is highly recommended for both authors and publishers.

After a three-chapter introduction of some basic publishing law concepts, he spends almost 80 pages in chapter four going over the book publishing contract clause by clause. He examines the legal implications of each clause, the profit/loss implications for both the author and the publisher, as well as typical practices throughout the industry. Every author and every publisher should read this chapter twice!

Chapter five examines defamation and privacy issues that every author and publisher should know before they write or publish a book. Can you risk not knowing this?

After that he examines copyright, subsidiary rights, and trademark issues in detail-essential information for publishers.

A well-read copy of this book belongs on the shelf of every publisher and author.