Subsidiary rights clause
This clause states that the publisher has the right to sell or license various subsidiary rights related to your book, such as translation rights, audioboo
In plain English
This clause states that the publisher has the right to sell or license various subsidiary rights related to your book, such as translation rights, audiobook rights, film/TV rights, serialization rights, and book club rights. Any money made from these deals will be split between you and the publisher, usually 50/50, after the publisher deducts any costs they incurred in making the deal.
What it means in practice
In practice, this means the publisher can pursue opportunities to adapt your book into different formats or markets (like other languages, audio versions, or movies) and will share the revenue with you. However, the publisher has control over these deals, and you may not have much say in the terms or partners they choose. The revenue split and expense deductions will affect how much you earn from these opportunities.
What's standard
It is standard for the publisher to handle subsidiary rights and for the revenue split to be 50/50 after the publisher deducts any direct expenses.
Red flags
A clause that allows the publisher to deduct indirect or vague expenses from your share of subsidiary rights revenue.
A clause that gives the publisher exclusive rights to subsidiary rights without a time limit or performance clause.
A clause that does not specify the revenue split, leaving it open to negotiation or interpretation.
What to ask for instead
Ask for language that specifies the revenue split for each type of subsidiary right (e.g., 50/50 for translation, 60/40 for film/TV) and limits the publisher's ability to deduct expenses to only those directly related to securing the deal. Additionally, consider including a clause that allows you to regain control of subsidiary rights if the publisher has not exploited them within a certain period, such as 12 months.
This is information, not legal advice. Contracts turn on their exact wording and your circumstances — before you sign, have a publishing lawyer or a body like the Society of Authors or the Authors Guild review the actual document.