Legal Definitions - author's share

The term "author's share" refers to the specific portion of earnings an author or creator receives from the sale, licensing, or distribution of their copyrighted work. This amount is typically a percentage of the royalties generated and is formally established through a contractual agreement between the author and the entity publishing, distributing, or otherwise exploiting their work.

• Example 1: A Novelist's Book Deal

  Imagine a novelist who signs a contract with a major publishing house for their new mystery novel. Their agreement specifies that they will receive 10% of the net sales revenue for every hardcover copy sold and 25% of the net revenue from every e-book sold. These percentages—10% for hardcovers and 25% for e-books—represent the author's share. It is the agreed-upon portion of the royalties the author is entitled to receive from the publisher for their creative work.

• Example 2: A Songwriter's Royalties

  Consider a songwriter who composes a hit song that is recorded and released by a popular musical artist. The songwriter's publishing agreement with a music publisher stipulates that they will receive 50% of the publisher's share of performance royalties (generated from radio play, streaming services, and public performances) and mechanical royalties (from physical album sales and digital downloads). This 50% of the publisher's share of various royalties constitutes the songwriter's "author's share," as defined by their contract for that specific musical composition.

• Example 3: An Academic Textbook Author

  A university professor authors a new textbook for their field and partners with a university press for publication. Their contract outlines a tiered royalty structure: the professor will receive an author's share of 15% of the net sales for the first 5,000 copies sold, and then 18% for all copies sold thereafter. These specific percentages, varying based on sales volume, are the professor's author's share, detailing their financial entitlement from the textbook's sales as per their agreement with the press.