Review

"An excellent survey of the business side of authorship today." -- Booklist

"An indispensable handbook for anyone who writes." -- Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher

Authors Guild, Allworth Press Publish New Edition of Acclaimed Legal Guide; Resource Advises Authors on E-Books and Electronic Rights The Authors Guild, Inc., the nation’s largest trade association of professional authors, has teamed up with Allworth Press, publisher of business and legal books for artists and writers, to publish THE WRITER’S LEGAL GUIDE, AN AUTHORS GUILD DESK REFERENCE. The resulting collaboration is the third edition of the classic reference, originally written by Allworth Press publisher Tad Crawford, and now extensively revised and updated by Kay Murray, General Counsel to the Authors Guild. The authors, both attorneys, draw on their years of experience on the front lines of advocating creators’ rights and economic interests to give readers a comprehensive survey of the legal and business questions facing anyone who writes professionally. In clear, friendly language, THE WRITER’S LEGAL GUIDE explains recent changes in laws governing electronic rights, E-books, fair use, and publishing contracts, so that authors can best protect their interests. Other chapters cover:

- The law of copyright for creators - Step-by-step copyright registration - Accounting methods, record-keeping, taxes, and estate planning - Avoiding legal liability - Complying with fair use guidelines - Using royalty collecting societies - Obtaining permission to use quotes - Negotiating periodical, syndication, film, television, play, and audio agreements - Avoiding and resolving business disputes - Limits of free expression - Choosing self-publication