Re: Copyright in book publishing question

On 2/20/99, Cynthia Kiyotake <cfk[_at_]mgma.com> wrote:
>
> I have recently joined this discussion group and have found it valuable
> in terms of content as well as the active postings to messages. I
> thought I would ask this question to the list for help. As a book
> publisher, we typically contract with authors who give us copyright.
> What happens when a ghostwriter is involved in writing the book? Does
> the ghostwriter sign an author contract, as well as the author whose
> name appears on the book? Or does a ghostwriter's work fall under the
> work for hire concept?

     These are all questions of contract law and depend on what both the putative author and the ghost are willing to give up in exchange for the consideration offered. A ghost with sufficent leverage may negotiate for a percentage of the royalties or even some of the rights acruing after first book rights, as I understand was the case with the writer who ghosted the infamous William Shatner SF novels. More often, however, I believe this will be a straight work-for-hire as was the case with, say, a Nancy Drew book. Keep in mind that your contract with the name author... if not under a fictitious "house" name... will likely (certainly?) control whether the work benefits from the longer "work-for-hire" term.

                            James

James Michael Rogers
jetan[_at_]ionet.net
Mundus Vult Decipi Received on Tue Feb 23 1999 - 01:22:29 GMT