No professional writer or responsible agent would accept terms that call for the author's virtual surrender of basic literary rights yet with its pitiful advances and Draconian option clause, this contract does just that. The Authors Guild deplores Time Warner's exploitive approach. We strongly advise authors who are interested in digital publication to hold out for a publishing partner who respects their work and a publishing agreement that reflects fundamental standards of fair industry practice. The publishing contract contains several unusual provisions that could prove costly to unwary writers. The terms are among the worst the Authors Guild has seen from a publisher of any size or reputation.
Royalties are low.
No advance is paid for the e-book. Time Warner s iPublish is selective in the works it chooses to publish as an e-book. Just as a publisher pays the author an advance when it selectively acquires rights to publish a work in advance when it selects a work to publish electronically, especially when the publisher ties up other literary rights as well. Time Warner obtains an exclusive option to publish the work in print form. Time Warner controls the author s next work.