As technologies develop, cross-media deals allow you to maximise the value of your publishing assets, but the acquisition and exploitation of publishing rights becomes more complex.
We can help you navigate the legal issues of an evolving industry. You can call on our expertise at any point in the creative and commercial life cycle of a project. You will benefit from our combined knowledge of traditional and digital publishing, from deals to disputes. As a result of our related industry expertise in areas such as interactive entertainment, music, TV and film, we can provide you with tailored advice on cross-media and convergence deals, as well as other emerging business opportunities. You can expect us to provide pragmatic and creative solutions to individual challenges.
“The firm’s publishing practice continues to thrive, and over the last year it has seen an increase in matters relating to e-books, audio books and other digital rights issues.”
Chambers UK, 2012
Our understanding of the business of publishing comes from up-to-date industry experience. We regularly engage with industry groups, such as the Publishers Association Legal Committee, Stationers’ Company, and Association of Authors’ Agents. We attend the London Book Fair and the Futurebook conference. We are often invited to speak at events and contribute to trade publications such as The Bookseller.
We can offer you sector-specific advice on:
- Clearance and acquisition of content and rights
- Publishing contracts – Drafting and advising on all types of author, illustrator, ghost writer, translator, editor and project manager contracts for print and digital media
- Advising on royalty and payment structures, interpretation of rights and key performance terms
- Electronic publishing – Advising on new media and digital exploitation of content including via digital subscription services, cloud based services, virtual learning environments and apps
- Pre-publication advice – Libel, privacy and other pre-publication advice, and advice on marketing and advertising campaigns, including in social media and more traditional media
- Magazines, newspapers and journals – Advising publishers, freelance journalists and photographers
- Data protection and e-commerce – Advice for new publishing apps, websites and digital services
- Brand licensing – Advising on licensing and use of brands. Advising publishers and others on their brand portfolios including merchandising opportunities
- Corporate and commercial services – Acquisitions, joint ventures, outsourcing and financing arrangements. Distribution agreements and commercial agents’ agreements
- Disputes.
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CLIENTS AND WORK HIGHLIGHTS
Our clients include: Penguin Books, Oxford University Press, Hachette as well as individual authors and celebrities.
RECENT WORK
Penguin Books Ltd/Frederick Warne Ltd
We advised Penguin/Frederick Warne on the restructuring of its joint venture arrangement in relation to the future television, publishing and merchandising exploitation of the Beatrix Potter properties.
Oxford University Press
We advise Oxford University Press on a range of intellectual property matters and provide commercial advice in relation to publishing agreements.
Flooved Ltd.
Flooved is a start-up platform that aims to be a one-stop shop for learning resources, including journals, textbooks, exam papers and other institutional materials. We prepared licence agreements and advised on the legal aspects of the service including user terms and data protection matters. Flooved was awarded a TSB Grant and selected for the BBC Worldwide Labs incubator programme.
Gok Wan
Advising fashion consultant Gok Wan in relation to the publication of a tie-in book to his TV series How to Look Good Naked.
