Copyright Bill of Rights: 8 Fundamental Rights for the Global Author in a Digital World

Copyright law, policy, and practice underwrites the publication and sale of books. The income that every author and publisher receives derives from copyright law.

Independent authors, who are both writers and publishers, and who actively manage their own publishing rights, need to understand the importance of copyright and how to assert their rights in the digital age.

As a global nonprofit organization promoting ethics and excellence in self-publishing, ALLi advocates for the fair treatment and empowerment of the individual (“indie”) author in the publishing and self-publishing sectors. It is our responsibility, and our honor, to put forward the issues that independent authors face in the course of doing their work and running their businesses. No issue is more fundamental than copyright.

How can we ensure that copyright law remains robust and flexible enough to offer the incentive, protection and reward it promises for those authors who produce and distribute their books on self-publishing platforms, and license only some of their publishing rights to trade publishers and other rights buyers?

How can we ensure that authors understand and avail of their economic and moral rights in the rapidly changing, technologized and entrepreneurial environment within which they do their work?

We present our answers to these important questions in the form of a Copyright Bill of Rights that builds on the work of previous authors and copyright activists to take into account the experience of self-publishing writers over the past decade.

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is the professional association for authors who self-publish. Rapidly growing, this global, nonprofit organization brings together the world's best indie authors, advisors, and self-publishing services. ALLi offers contacts and campaigns, education and collaboration, benefits and bonuses—together with trusted guidance on how to self-publish well.

ALLi is global, headquartered in London, UK, but with members all over the world, organized across seven key English-language territories. It runs a directory of approved services, a watchdog desk, a code of standards for authors and services, book promotion and rights selling opportunities for its members, alongside a growing range of resources for emerging and experienced self-publishers.

ALLi also widely champions the interests of author-publishers through its campaigns and projects. And Director Orna Ross has been named "one of the 100 most influential people in publishing" (The Bookseller) for her advocacy. Today, the organization has become an established and credible force in global publishing.