Chart House Press

Publication Agreement

 

Article One

Rights Granted To Publisher

Section 1.1      The Author grants to the Publisher during the Term (as defined below) of this Agreement the exclusive right to:

  1. Publish and market the Work in any printed book form (“Book Form”) throughout the world;
  2. Publish and market the Work in electronic book form (“eBook Form”) throughout the world;
  3. Publish and market the Work in audio book form (“Audio Form”) throughout the world;
  4. License the Work for publication and sale in Book Form in any translation throughout the world;
  5. Store, use, transmit and distribute electronic copies of the Work as required in facilitating the printing and distribution process, such right to extend to Publisher’s vendors and affiliates;
  6. Make up to twenty percent (20%) of the Work viewable on the Publisher’s website, or partner websites that have entered into agreement with the Publisher, in order to facilitate sales of the Work;
  7. Post pertinent information regarding the Author or the Work, including information that will help promote the Author or Work.
  8. Decide on the final public release date, with input and consideration from the Author, no later than one year after signing.

Any of the above uses may be made for publicity purposes without charge to benefit the sale of the Work.

Section 1.2      Author will retain copyright ownership in the Work and does hereby license to Publisher the rights described above.

Section 1.3      All rights in the Work not specifically granted to the Publisher are reserved by the Author.

 

Article Two

Publication and Procedure

 

Section 2.1      The Publisher agrees to publish the Work in print and eBook in the manner and format, and at the prices, the Publisher may deem appropriate, subject to the following procedure:

  1. Galley or page proofs, or both, shall be forwarded to the Author for the Author’s corrections and changes which are to be returned within a reasonable time frame, but not to exceed thirty days (30) without mutual agreement by both parties.
  2. Author shall complete and execute all relevant additional instruments reasonably requested by Publisher, including preparation of the work according to the Publisher’s style guide. Any format other than Microsoft Word must be approved in advance by Publisher.
  3. Author shall maintain an author website and social media accounts, including Facebook fan page, Twitter, and GoodReads.

 

Article Three

Author’s Royalties

Section 3.1      The Publisher agrees to pay the Author royalties as follows:

  1. Royalties due and owing shall be determined on the basis of the Publisher’s paid invoices for the Work only, less expenses related to returns such as shipping and re-stock, distribution and special channels fees, and a reasonable reserve for returns (“Receipts”) from all sales.
  2. Royalties shall be computed under the following categories:
    1. On the sale of the Work in Book Form, the Publisher will pay the Author:
    2. 30% of the first 1,000 units sold
    3. 50% on 1,001 or more units sold
  1. On the sale of the Work in eBook Form, the Publisher will pay the Author fifty percent (50%) of the Receipts.
  2. On the sale of the Work in Audio Form, the Publisher will pay the Author fifty percent (50%) of the Receipts.
  3. On the sale of the Work via foreign rights translation, the Publisher will pay the Author fifty percent (50%) of the Receipts.
  4. The Publisher shall pay no royalties on copies furnished gratis to the Author or other persons, or furnished to Author at the discounted prices as outlined in Section 3.4.

 

Section 3.2      The Publisher shall make monthly royalty payments to the Author beginning one month after date of publication, so long as there are Proceeds available for payment to the Author. If the amount due for any accounting period shall be less than $50.00, the balance shall be applied to the next calendar month until the royalty payment due equals or exceeds $50.00. The Publisher may deduct any overpayment to the Author from any royalties due and owing the Author, whether on the Work or on other works of the Author published by the Publisher.

Section 3.3      The Author shall have the right to examine, through the Author’s accountant and at the Author’s expense, the Publisher’s books and records containing entries relating to the Author’s rights under the terms of this Agreement. This right may be exercised no more than once annually, with thirty (30) days notice to Publisher, during Publisher’s regular business hours. This right shall extend twelve (12) months past the termination date of this Agreement.

Section 3.4      The Publisher shall present to the Author 10 paperback copies of the Work upon publication. Publisher shall permit the Author to purchase further copies at print cost plus 30% and a $35 per transaction fee. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties hereto, all fees and compensation due and owing as a result of performance under this Agreement are quoted and payable in U.S. Dollars. All orders must be prepaid and are non-returnable or refundable. Shipping charges are not included.

 

Article Four

Copyrights

Section 4.1      The Publisher shall (subject to the representations and agreements of the Author) imprint a proper United States copyright notice in each copy of the Work sold or offered for sale by the Publisher in the United States, in compliance with the United States copyright law and the Universal Copyright Convention.

Section 4.2      Author may apply for registration of the copyright in the United States and in any other countries as may be covered by this Agreement, in accordance with Section 1.2.

Section 4.3      If the Publisher supplied artwork at its own expense, it shall own it and may copyright the artwork in its own name.

Section 4.4      If the copyright in the Work is infringed by a publication or production of a kind that invades any of the rights in which the Publisher has a financial interest under the provisions of this agreement, Publisher shall have the right to commence an action for infringement of the copyright (“Action”). Author shall not commence any Action without Publisher’s prior consent. Action pursued by the Author or Publisher shall share expenses and settlement equally. If the Publisher shall elect to join in the Action, all expenses and the net amount of any recovery or settlement resulting from the Action shall be shared equally. These rights shall extend twelve (12) months past the termination date of this Agreement.

 

Article Five

Warranties and Indemnification

Section 5.1      The Author warrants as follows:

  1. That the Work is entirely original, except for portions thereof for which legally effective written licenses or permissions have been secured, or verified to be in the public domain;
  2. That Author is the sole owner of all the rights granted to the Publisher in this Agreement, and that Author has the full right and power to enter into this Agreement;
  3. That this Agreement does not conflict with any arrangements, understandings, or agreements between the Author and any other person or entity;
  4. That if published it will not infringe upon any proprietary right at common law or any statutory copyright or any other right whatsoever of third parties;
  5. That the Work is not defamatory or obscene, and contains no matter that is libelous, in violation of any right of privacy or is otherwise in contravention of law, and will not be injurious to any reader, user, or third person.

Section 5.2      The Author agrees to indemnify and hold the Publisher and its Affiliates harmless from any claim, demand suit, action, proceeding or prosecution (and liability, loss, expense or damage in consequence regarding text and material provided by Author) asserted or instituted by reason of the publication or sale of the Work or the Publisher’s exercise or enjoyment of any of its rights under this agreement or by reason of any warranty or indemnity made, assumed or incurred by the Publisher in connection with the exercise of any of its rights under this agreement. The Publisher shall have the right at its option either to defend the claim, demand, suit, action, proceeding or prosecution by counsel of its selection, or to settle the same on terms it deems advisable; or, with the prior written approval of the Publisher, the Author may defend or settle. In the event of a final judgment dismissing any claim, demand, suit, action, proceeding or prosecution without liability to the Publisher, the indemnity of the Author shall be limited to reimbursing the Publisher to the extent of one-half of the net expenses incurred by the Publisher. The Publisher shall have the further right to withhold and apply any royalties or other sums due the Author under this or any other agreement in payment of the Author’s obligations under this paragraph. The rights and obligations in this Section 5.2 survive the termination date of this Agreement.

Article Six

Termination and Breach

Section 6.1      The Author may terminate the agreement if the Publisher fails to publish the Work in print and eBook within six (6) months. Upon termination all rights revert to the Author.

Section 6.2      If the Publisher gives written notice to the Author of its intention to discontinue publication of the Work, or if the Publisher fails to keep the Work in print, and, the Author having given notice to the Publisher to reprint the Work, the Publisher has failed to do so within six (6) months after receipt of notice, then the Author shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by notice delivered to the Publisher and have all rights revert to Author. The Work shall be deemed in print if it is on sale by the Publisher or under license granted by the Publisher, or if any option for its publication, granted by the Publisher, is outstanding.

Section 6.3      Either Publisher or Author may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the other in the event of the other’s insolvency, fraud, willful misconduct, filing of bankruptcy or other material breach of this Agreement. In the event of any breach, whether material or not, of any of the Author’s warranties or promises or indemnities, the Publisher or Author shall have the option to terminate this agreement by 30 days’ advance notice in writing, stating or describing the breach, and indicating Publisher’s intent to terminate if the described breach or default is not cured within that time.

Section 6.4      Either Publisher or Author may terminate this Agreement upon mutual agreement of the parties by 30 days’ advance notice in writing. The termination of this Agreement under this Section or otherwise shall be subject to:

  1. Any license, contract, or option granted by the Publisher to the Publisher’s subsidiaries or to third parties before the termination and the Publisher’s right to its share of the proceeds from such grants after the termination; and
  2. The Publisher’s continuing right to sell all remaining bound copies and sheets of the Work and derivative works that are on hand at the time of termination.

 

Article Seven

Term

Section 7.1      The Term of this Agreement shall extend through the full term of the copyright in the Work and all renewals thereof, or until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article Six, whichever is sooner. Upon the expiration or termination of the copyright, this Agreement shall automatically terminate.

 

Article Eight

Miscellaneous

Section 8.1      Binding Agreement. The terms and provisions of this Agreement are binding on and enforceable by and against the parties, their successors, legal representatives, and assigns. There is no other agreement between the parties that deals with the subject matter of this Agreement.

Section 8.2      Conflict with other Agreements. This Agreement shall alter and amend any other written or oral agreement of the parties as needed to comply with the terms and conditions herein.

Section 8.3      Modification or Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified or amended without the written consent of all persons who are parties on the date of such amendment.

Section 8.4      Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given to the Company under this Agreement must be given to in writing, and will be deemed given when personally delivered or, if earlier, when received after mailing by registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, with return receipt requested.

Section 8.5      Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion thereof, shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such provision shall not be thereby affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion.

Section 8.6      Waiver. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the party entitled to the benefit thereof by a written instrument. The failure by any party to enforce any term or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of that term or provision.

Section 8.7      Force Majeure. Neither party shall be in default or otherwise liable for any delay in or failure of its performance under this Agreement where such delay or failure arises by reason of any act of God or any government or any governmental body, war, terrorist act, insurrection, the elements, strikes or labor disputes, or other similar or dissimilar cause beyond the control of such party.

Section 8.8      Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Texas.

Section 8.9    Attachments. All attachments referred in this Agreement and attached hereto are incorporated in this agreement by reference.

Section 8.10    Construction of Terms. Wherever the context requires, the singular includes the plural, and the masculine includes the feminine and neuter.

Section 8.11    Headings. Headings are used in this Agreement for convenience only and will not be used to interpret this Agreement or any part thereof.

Section 8.12    Assignment. Author may not assign this Agreement, or any rights or obligations hereunder, by operation of law or any other manner, without the Publisher’s prior written consent. Upon the death of Author, assignment of Author’s rights may transfer to legal heirs.

 Section 8.13    Advice of Counsel. The parties acknowledge and agree that each have had the unrestricted opportunity to consult with independent legal counsel of his/her own choosing, that any decision not to be so represented was voluntarily and independently made by that party, and that the provisions of this Agreement will not be construed in favor of either party.

Section 8.14    Arbitration. All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this Agreement are to be settled by binding arbitration in the state of Texas through the American Arbitration Association. If arbitration is used, both the Author and Publisher shall agree on the selection of the arbiter, or in the event of no agreement, the AAA will choose the arbitrator. An award of arbitration may be confirmed in a court of competent jurisdiction.

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