Writer’s Legal Guide

In an increasingly digitized and complex publishing world, writers need to know how to protect themselves against copyright infringement, legal trouble, and unwise concessions to publishers. The Authors Guild has once again partnered with Allsworth Press to update The Writer’s Legal Guide: An Authors Guild Desk Reference by Kay Murray and Tad Crawford, now in its fourth edition.

Thoroughly revised to reflect the many changes in the publishing industry, the fourth edition offers plain-English explanations of legal and business aspects of the trade, from electronic rights and e-books to contracts and accounting. Other topics include:

•        Registering copyrights, including online registration
•        Taxes and bookkeeping
•        Fair use guidelines
•        Contract negotiation
•        Periodical, syndication, film, television, play, and audio rights agreements
•        Obtaining permissions to use others’ work
•        Business disputes
•        Libel, privacy, and the limits of free expression
•        Avoiding self-publishing missteps
•        Planning authors’ estates
•        And much more

The Writer’s Legal Guide is an indispensable resource for all writers who want to protect their work and succeed in both traditional and digital markets. Click here to purchase your copy of The Writer’s Legal Guide.

Download The Writer’s Legal Guide

Authors Guild members can download and read individual chapters of the book below.

1. Writing Is a Business
2. Copyright Basics
3. Copyright: Notice, Registration, and Deposit
4. Copyright: Works Made for Hire, Joint Works, and Community Property
5. Copyright: Infringement, Litigation, and Fair Use
6. Copyright’s History and its Future
7. Idea Theft, Misattribution, Reputational Harm: Other Protections for Writers
8. Free Expression and Its Limits
9. How to Use Open Government Laws
10. Contracts: Introduction and Negotiating Basics
11. Negotiating a Book Contract
12. Newspaper, Magazine, and Syndication Contracts
13. Self-Publishing Options: EBOOKS and Print on Demand
14. Electronic Rights and Wrongs: Battles over Digital Rights
15. Literary Agents and Agency Agreements
16. Collaboration and Ghostwriting Agreements
17. Film and Television Contracts and Dramatic Productions
18. How to Avoid and Resolve Disputes
19. Taxes: Writing Income and Expenses
20. The Hobby Loss Rule
21. Taxes: Beyond Schedule C
22. Estate Planning for Writers