The Law (in Plain English) for Publishers

“The ultimate legal manual for anyone in the publishing industry.” —Independent Publisher

In The Law (in Plain English)® for Publishers, Leonard DuBoff and Amanda Bryan tackle the many legal considerations of the publishing world. Both new and seasoned publishers and industry professionals will find the information they need as the authors break down the intricacies of the business in thorough yet concise explanations. Chapters cover important topics such as:

• Privacy, defamation, and other content issues
• Copyright basics, protection, and infringement
• Negotiating with authors and literary agents
• Contract terms
• Books in the digital age
• Publishing as a business
• Tax considerations

An indispensable reference, The Law (in Plain English)® for Publishers belongs on the shelves of all publishers, industry professionals, and enterprising authors.

Leonard DuBoff is the founder of the DuBoff Law Group, PC. He graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University with a degree in engineering and summa cum laude from Brooklyn Law School, where he was the research editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. He was a professor of law for almost a quarter of a century, teaching first at Stanford Law School and then at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. He resides in Portland, Oregon.

Amanda Bryan is a practicing lawyer representing clients from all over the world specializing in intellectual property including copyright, trademark and related subjects. She received her master’s degree in writing with an emphasis in book publishing from Portland State University. She graduated magna cum laude from Lewis and Clark Law School with a certificate in intellectual property law. She resides in Portland, Oregon.

“DuBoff and Bryan have crafted the ultimate legal manual for anyone in the publishing industry. For independent or small-press publishers just trying to find their feet—or trying to grow in a stable and sustainable fashion—the plethora of information presented in this book will be invaluable.” —Independent Publisher

“Explains all the myriad of legal issues facing a publisher in today’s digital environment without overwhelming the reader with legalese.” —Publishing Research Quarterly review by Nancy E. Wolff, partner, Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP

“The ideal legal resource for every upstart and seasoned publisher! From his extensive career as an expert IP attorney, Leonard DuBoff and his knowledgeable coauthor Amanda Bryan present an easy-to-understand, thorough yet concise, and extremely well written treatment of the legal concerns publishers must know to operate with integrity and excellence. Highly recommended!” —Bob Hawkins, Jr., president, Harvest House Publishers

“A treasure trove of relevant information for industry professionals, new publishers, and indie authors, covering a comprehensive range of topics from the fine points of freedom of speech, privacy and defamation, copyright, infringement and fair use, agents, publishing contracts, piracy, taxes, and more.”—Kevin J. Anderson, #1 international bestselling author and publisher of WordFire Press

“Understanding copyright law is one of the greatest challenges every publisher faces. The Law (in Plain English)® for Publishers offers a practical roadmap for navigating the law, written—as its name implies—in language that even the most legally challenged among us can understand. Publishers large and small should keep a copy of this valuable resource within easy reach.” —John Limb, publisher emeritus, Oregon Catholic Press

“Leonard DuBoff’s Law (in Plain English)® series has been a go-to resource for the media industry for decades, and this volume is a worthy addition to the collection. Whether one is publishing a lengthy annual list for the trade or a single highly specialized occasional title, The Law (in Plain English)® for Publishers offers up-to-date, trustworthy information, advice, and guidance. It’s all here: copyrights, contracts, protections, pitfalls—all rendered in easily comprehensible language. The extensive section on electronic publishing is timely and forward thinking.” —Linda Ligon, Thrums Books and Interweave Press

“This is an essential book for anyone who is working, or plans to work, in the book publishing field. Whether you’re a junior editor, a senior executive, or an author, this book offers essential advice and information that will undoubtedly enhance your publishing expertise.” —Tony Lyons, author and publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

"A very informative book for new publishers looking to set up shop as well as a good review for the seasoned ones!" —Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc.

“Explains all the myriad of legal issues facing a publisher in today’s digital environment without overwhelming the reader with legalese.” —Nancy E. Wolff, partner, Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP (from Publishing Research Quarterly)

“A treasure trove of relevant information for industry professionals, new publishers, and indie authors, covering a comprehensive range of topics from the fine points of freedom of speech, privacy and defamation, copyright, infringement and fair use, agents, publishing contracts, piracy, taxes, and more.” —Kevin J. Anderson, #1 international bestselling author and publisher of WordFire Press

“The ideal legal resource for every upstart and seasoned publisher! From his extensive career as an expert IP attorney, Leonard DuBoff and his knowledgeable coauthor Amanda Bryan present an easy-to-understand, thorough yet concise, and extremely well written treatment of the legal concerns publishers must know to operate with integrity and excellence. Highly recommended!” —Bob Hawkins, Jr., president, Harvest House Publishers

“Understanding copyright law is one of the greatest challenges every publisher faces. The Law (in Plain English)® for Publishers offers a practical roadmap for navigating the law, written—as its name implies—in language that even the most legally challenged among us can understand. Publishers large and small should keep a copy of this valuable resource within easy reach.” —John Limb, publisher emeritus, Oregon Catholic Press

“Leonard DuBoff’s Law (in Plain English)® series has been a go-to resource for the media industry for decades, and this volume is a worthy addition to the collection. Whether one is publishing a lengthy annual list for the trade or a single highly specialized occasional title, The Law (in Plain English)® for Publishers offers up-to-date, trustworthy information, advice, and guidance. It’s all here: copyrights, contracts, protections, pitfalls—all rendered in easily comprehensible language. The extensive section on electronic publishing is timely and forward thinking.” —Linda Ligon, Thrums Books and Interweave Press

“This is an essential book for anyone who is working, or plans to work, in the book publishing field. Whether you’re a junior editor, a senior executive, or an author, this book offers essential advice and information that will undoubtedly enhance your publishing expertise.” —Tony Lyons, author and publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

“A very informative book for new publishers looking to set up shop as well as a good review for the seasoned ones!” —Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency, Inc.