The Bookseller.com

13th October 2008

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Writers: gives us our digital dues

28.02.08

Author Kate Pullinger has called on authors to revolt against publishers' contracts: writing in the Guardian, Pullinger argues that in the shift from print to digital, writers are in danger of losing out big time. "It's time to throw off the shackles of traditional publishing contracts and face a brand new digital future with a brand new set of priorities. Let's copy or, should I say, learn from our brothers and sisters in Hollywood: don't let the industry take our digital rights away! Give us our digital dues!"

According to Pullinger, "the problem is that the royalty terms publishers are offering for digitisation are almost exactly the same as terms offered for publishing books." Figures vary from one publishing house to the next, but most seem to be settling on somewhere between 10% and 20% of the retail price of the book.

Pullinger is unhappy by this: "why should we sign contracts giving us a paltry 15% royalty in an industry where actual costs are being massively reduced overnight?"

Guardian

Authors digital e-book