Publishing solicitors

If you are involved in the publication of material in any form, Contact Law can put you in touch with publishing solicitors who can advise you on the many areas of law that you will need to be aware of.

In publishing it is important to be aware of copyright laws. Copyright laws protect original works, and allow the owner of a copyright to take legal action against another person who attempts to use their work without permission. Copyright can cover written works, photography, art work, software, or music. Publishing solicitors will be able to enforce your copyright, or help you grant a licence that allows another person to use your protected work.

Publishing solicitors will be able to draft and negotiate the various types of contracts that are necessary in publishing. These include:

Editor agreements
Artwork agreements
Author agreements
Permission letters
Publishing agreements
Contributor agreements
Electronic distribution agreements

It is recommended that you consult a publishing solicitor before signing a publishing contract. This will ensure you fully understand the terms and conditions of the contract before being legally committed to them.

Publishing solicitors will be able to advise on the law of defamation. Defamation is a tort that occurs when an untrue statement is made about a person to a third party, and the statement is damaging to the person’s reputation. Defamation can be about an individual or an organisation. If the untrue statement is published, it becomes a permanent statement, and the defamation is known as libel. Publishers must be very wary of libel as it can lead to costly litigation. You are advised to seek a publishing solicitor’s opinion in the event of a libel claim.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on publishing laws, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist publishing solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local publishing solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.