Could this be Australia’s worst publishing contract? And bookselling icon Dymocks is behind it.

Martin Taylor - December 16th, 2011 

Australian bookselling icon Dymocks last week launched a self-publishing service called D Publishing. While the service looks fine, its publishing contract is dreadful. Even if you’re not in Australia, you should look at it to see just how bad a publishing contract can be in the wrong hands.
The issue was exposed by The Australian Literature Review (AusLit) in a blog post headed, D Publishing by Dymocks Books – AUTHORS BEWARE. AusLit was concerned that, under the contract:

Authors grant an exclusive license to Dymocks for commercial rights worldwide for the duration of the copyright, including all subsidiary rights to the work.
While an author would have the right for their name to be attached to the work, they are essentially HANDING OVER CONTROL OF THE COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF COPYRIGHT WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING ALL SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS, FOR THE DURATION OF THE COPYRIGHT.
Authors inexperienced in the business of publishing and in dealing with publishing contracts may not realise the implications of what they are agreeing to.

Martin's full, thoughtful and helpful report here. 

Martin Taylor
Digital Strategies Limited

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