Goethe, Hesse, Dostoyevsky. What do they all have in common? They were all great writers. Anyone can become a writer, but few do it, and if you want to do it, sooner or later you end up with a publisher. Unfortunately, not every book can be accepted; there is strong competition between writers and between publishers who are vying for young, ambitious writers. Where there is competition and conflicting interests, there is unfortunately also a need for regulation and sometimes even disputes. We are at your side as an experienced partner.
Our consulting services in publishing law
We support publishers and authors with all questions relating to publishing law. We support you from the creation of a publishing contract to termination. We help you with breaches of contract, with identifying legal risks in the context of a book publication and with all questions relating to fixed book prices. In addition, your title protection is particularly important to us. Your book title should remain unique and therefore it must also be protected under trademark law. Fair and transparent regulations are the foundation for publishers and authors to be economically successful together, to increase legal certainty and to avoid conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Publishing Law
Publishing law is a sub-area of copyright law. Its core is the Publishing Act. Essentially, this area concerns both the legal relationship between publisher and author and the resulting rights of use.
A publishing contract is a special form of a copyright license agreement. In addition to the obligations of the parties, it regulates the granting and scope of the publisher’s right of use and the remuneration for the author.
The publishing contract is only fundamentally bound to the publishing law. Most of the regulations can be agreed individually and thus take into account the respective needs of the contracting parties.
A publishing contract is usually required if you want to publish a literary or musical work. Through this contract, the publisher takes on the task of reproducing and processing the work. You will then receive remuneration for this.
The remuneration can be freely agreed upon by the contracting parties. However, it must remain within reasonable limits. There is a wide range of possible arrangements. We will advise you on this and find the solution that is right for you.
There are also alternative publishing options. Particularly worth mentioning is the “Books on Demand” model, publishing through a subsidized publisher or the option of “self-publishing”.
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Your lawyer for publishing law in Hamburg
Dr. David Slopek has more than 10 years of intensive practical experience gained in Germany and abroad. After completing his studies, obtaining a Master of Laws and a doctorate at Heinrich-Heine-University-Düsseldorf, he was admitted to the bar by the Düsseldorf Bar Association in 2012. He learned his legal craft from scratch in a leading international law firm, for which he worked for around seven years in Alicante and Hamburg. In 2016, the Hanseatic Bar Association of Hamburg awarded him the title of specialist lawyer for intellectual property law. In addition to his professional qualifications, he has also published extensively, with over 80 specialist publications. He and his team will advise you with expertise and experience in all matters of trademark law.