Kirsch's Guide to the Book Contract: For Authors, Publishers, Editors, and Agents
Kirsch, an intellectual property attorney and author, presents a companion volume to his popular Handbook of Publishing Law (LJ 4/1/95). The new work opens with a model book publishing contract. Through the remainder of the book, each of the contract's representative clauses is explained, alternatives are offered, and terminology is defined. Kirsch uses different icons within the text to signal matters of special concern to authors or publishers. "Deal points," those parts of a contract that pertain to the particular rights assigned and the amount of compensation for them, are noted with a dollar sign. In addition to laying out the practical and legal meanings of the components of the contract, the author dispenses strategic advice designed to help the parties to the book deal consider all their rights and options. Kirsch succeeds in presenting the legal concepts without oversimplifying and prepares those participating in the contracting process for the new ways in which books are being written, published, and sold. Recommended for most public libraries.AJoan Pedzich, Harris, Beach & Wilcox, Rochester, NYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.