TAA * Text and Academic Authors Association

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Q: "What can I negotiate for in an academic contract and what must I accept?"

A: Michael Lennie, Authoring Attorney and Literary Agent, Lennie Literary and Authors' Attorneys:
"The negotiation of an academic contract (e.g., with a university press) is much different from the negotiation of a commercial publisher contract. The financial rewards are substantially less. The academic publisher assumes that the primary benefit to the author is the prestige of publication with its attendant assistance in gaining tenure. This is not to say that such a contract should not be carefully reviewed and the various clauses selectively negotiated."

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TAA is a member of the Authors Coalition of America (ACA) and is an Associate Member of the International Reprographic Rights Organization (IFRRO).