Publishing Agreement Template: Rights and Royalties Terms

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Publishing Agreement

This Publishing Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on [Date], by and between:

*Author: [Full Name]

Address: [Author’s Address]

Email: [Email Address]*

and

*Publisher: [Company Name]

Address: [Publisher’s Address]

Email: [Email Address]*

Together referred to as the “Parties.”

1. Work Description

The Author agrees to deliver to the Publisher the following original work (the “Work”):

Title: [Working Title]
Genre: [e.g., Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry]
Estimated Word Count: [X words]
Format(s): ☐ Print ☐ Digital ☐ Audiobook ☐ Other: __________

Title: [Working Title]

Genre: [e.g., Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry]

Estimated Word Count: [X words]

Format(s): ☐ Print ☐ Digital ☐ Audiobook ☐ Other: __________

2. Grant of Rights

The Author hereby grants the Publisher the following rights to the Work:

☐ Exclusive / ☐ Non-exclusive

☐ Worldwide / ☐ Territory-limited: [Specify countries]

Rights granted include:

Reproduction and distribution
Sale and licensing in all agreed formats
Translation and adaptation rights (if checked): ☐ Yes ☐ No
Marketing and promotional use of the Author’s name and likeness

Reproduction and distribution

Sale and licensing in all agreed formats

Translation and adaptation rights (if checked): ☐ Yes ☐ No

Marketing and promotional use of the Author’s name and likeness

3. Manuscript Delivery

The Author agrees to deliver the complete, edited manuscript by [Delivery Date].

☐ Publisher may request revisions

☐ Editor will be assigned by Publisher

4. Copyright Ownership

☐ The Publisher will be listed as licensee.

☐ Publisher will register copyright on Author’s behalf.

5. Royalties and Compensation

The Author shall receive:

Royalty: [X]% of net sales / gross sales / fixed fee
Advance Payment: $[Amount] ☐ Recoupable from royalties
Royalty Reporting: [e.g., Quarterly / Biannually]
Payment Method: [e.g., Bank Transfer / PayPal]

Royalty: [X]% of net sales / gross sales / fixed fee

Advance Payment: $[Amount] ☐ Recoupable from royalties

Royalty Reporting: [e.g., Quarterly / Biannually]

Payment Method: [e.g., Bank Transfer / PayPal]

6. Marketing and Promotion

The Publisher shall have the right (but not the obligation) to:

Promote the Work using digital and print media
Organize events, interviews, and campaigns
Collaborate with third parties for distribution

Promote the Work using digital and print media

Organize events, interviews, and campaigns

Collaborate with third parties for distribution

The Author agrees to participate in reasonable promotional activities upon request.

7. Author Warranties

The Author warrants that:

The Work is original and does not infringe any rights
It has not been previously published or licensed
It contains no unlawful, defamatory, or plagiarized content

The Work is original and does not infringe any rights

It has not been previously published or licensed

It contains no unlawful, defamatory, or plagiarized content

8. Termination

Either Party may terminate this Agreement with [X] days’ written notice if the other Party breaches any material provision and fails to cure such breach within [X] days.

9. Reversion of Rights

If the Work goes out of print or is no longer offered for sale for a period exceeding [X] months, all rights shall revert to the Author upon written request.

10. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [State/Country].

11. Entire Agreement

This document represents the full agreement between the Parties regarding the publishing of the Work and supersedes any prior agreements or discussions.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Publishing Agreement as of the date first written above.

Author Signature

Name:

Date:

Publisher Signature

Name:

Title:

Date:

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Publishing Agreement Template: Rights and Royalties Terms

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Reviewed July 2026 Free download, PDF & DOCX

What is a Publishing Agreement?

A publishing agreement is a legally binding contract between an author (or other content creator) and a publisher that defines the terms under which the author’s work will be published and distributed. It typically covers key elements such as rights granted, royalty rates, payment schedules, distribution territories, formats, deadlines, and responsibilities of both parties.

Why do you need a Publishing Agreement?

You need a publishing agreement to clearly define the business relationship between author and publisher, protect intellectual property rights, and ensure fair and transparent royalty arrangements. It helps prevent disputes by specifying exactly how the work may be used, marketed, and monetized, and it serves as legal evidence of each party’s rights and obligations.

When should you use a Publishing Agreement?

Use a publishing agreement whenever an author’s work — whether a book, article, digital content, or other creative work — is being published or licensed to a publisher for commercial or non-commercial distribution. This applies to traditional publishing, self-publishing arrangements with third-party services, and certain content licensing deals.

How to write a Publishing Agreement?

Clearly outline the publishing rights being granted (exclusive or non-exclusive), the royalty and payment structure, the length of the agreement, formats and territories covered, intellectual property ownership, editorial control, marketing obligations, delivery timelines, and termination clauses. Both parties should review the agreement carefully and sign it to make it legally enforceable.

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