Selling Rights Short Course

The sale of rights is crucial to the activities of literary agencies and publishing houses, and can be a major factor in building an author’s career and maintaining author loyalty. For publishers, the sale of rights can also have a major influence on the overall publishing decision and on their profitability.

Here at the IES we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting this in-person course aimed at staff handling rights for literary agencies and publishing houses. It will cover the rationale for selling rights as well as the practicalities – checking control of the rights and maintaining an accurate database of submissions and sales, as well as key activities such as researching particular markets, identifying potential licensees and building personal contacts at book fairs and on sales trips.

The course will address a range of different rights categories, from English language deals in the UK and abroad, translation rights, serial rights to newspapers and magazines as well as non-print rights such as radio and audio rights, film and television rights and merchandising. It will cover the rationale for coedition versus licence deals, and offer practical advice on how to achieve the best deal and finalise appropriate licence contracts. The final session will cover electronic publishing and will aim to distinguish between arrangements which are sales channels to market, and those which are true electronic licensing deals.

Your tutors Juliet Pickering (Blake Friedmann), Lynette Owen (Freelance Copyright and Rights Consultant) and Diane Spivey (Publishing Rights and Contracts Consultant) have a wide range of experience in different sectors of the book industry.

Cost: £375

Timings: 10:00 - 17:00

This is a two-day short course, 8-9 May 2025, the cost includes both days.

The course is in-person only. It will not be recorded.

Please note that the reduced course fee reflects the fact that lunch and refreshments are no longer provided. There are water dispensers and cafe on-site, including a cafeteria with a lunch menu, and plenty of options for lunch within walking distance - or you can bring your own provisions.