Literary Law Guide for Authors: Copyrights, Trademarks and Contracts in Plain Language - Softcover

Tonya Marie Evans; Susan Borden Evans

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967457963 ISBN 13: 9780967457963

Publisher: FYOS Entertainment/Legal Write Publications, 2003

Synopsis

The Literary Law Guide for Authors provides essential information about copyright and trademark law. The text and illustrations teach authors how to protect their work and how to avoid common pitfalls associated with writing that may expose a writer to legal liability.

This title breaks down complicated boilerplate language most commonly included in publishing contracts and analyzes the clauses from the author's perspective.

The Literary Law Guide for Authors includes valuable forms commonly used by authors, including forms to register copyrighted materials and to engage the services of artists and other independent contractors on a work-for-hire basis. Also included is a sample publishing contract form with commentary and a list of references to obtain supplementary information.

The Literary Law Guide for Authors is an indispensable writing tool for all writers. A successful writer is an informed writer who understands the legal advantages, disadvantages, and intricacies involved in the business of writing.

About this title

About the Author

Tonya M. Evans, Esquire, also known as Lawyer by day, Poet by night™, is an attorney at the Philadelphia law firm of Evans & Borden Evans, LLC. She practices in the areas of intellectual property (copyright, trademark, licensing), entertainment law (publishing, music), and estate planning (wills, trusts). Tonya and her law partner, Susan Borden Evans, who is also her mother, have developed a professional niche within the publishing industry, representing authors in the review and negotiation of publishing and subsidiary rights deals, and educating authors through seminars and workshops on self-publishing and literary law.

Tonya received a B.S. in communication studies from Northwestern University, which she attended on a full four-year tennis scholarship. Thereafter, she played on the women’s professional tennis tour for four years, competing most notably at the U.S. Open and Virginia Slims of Philadelphia in 1993.

In 1995, Tonya attended Howard University School of Law. She served as editor-in-chief of the Howard Law Journal and graduated with honors in 1998. She served as law clerk to Judge Theodore McKee in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and worked at large law firms before joining practice with her mother. Tonya is a member of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Third Circuit Bars.

Tonya lectures across the country on copyright and trademark law, and on self-publishing and successful negotiations in the publishing industry. She has also contributed to Black Issues Book Review and QBR: The Black Book Review. In addition, she is an accomplished poet, performer, and writer. Her books include And Then One Day She Knew, Seasons of Her, and SHINE!

Susan Borden Evans, Esquire, received her B.S. from Howard University, with a major in chemistry and a minor in related sciences, and her M.Ed. and J.D. from Temple University. Susan is an intellectual property attorney in the Philadelphia firm of Evans & Borden Evans, LLC. She concentrates her practice in patent and trademark prosecution, and contract review and negotiation. Susan has successfully negotiated publishing agreements and licensing and sub-licensing agreements, and she has prosecuted hundreds of patent applications.

She is a former chairperson of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association and a former president of the Barristers Association of Philadelphia. Susan lectures regularly across the country on aspects of intellectual property and publishing law, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and the Patent Bar.

Review

"Covers every phase of the writing and publishing process . . . with clarity and reader-friendliness. Great tool for every writer." -- Marilyn Ross, cofounder of SPAN and coauthor of Complete Guide to Self-Publishing and Jump Start Your Book Sales

"The most often asked questions I receive from authors involve the publishing contract. Now I direct them to [this book]." -- Max Rodriguez, Publisher/Editor of QBR The Black Book Review

"Timely, well-written, and authoritative . . . I highly recommend this book." -- Dan Poynter, Author of The Self-Publishing Manual

About this edition

• Publisher: FYOS Entertainment/Legal Write Publications
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0967457963
• ISBN 13: 9780967457963
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208