Can the contract be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes in most jurisdictions; New York uses ESRA. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and record retention to meet the four-part legal test.

Is notarization required for this contract?

Usually not. Publishing contracts rarely require notarization. If an exhibit or assignment requires notarization, follow state notary rules and consider Remote Online Notarization where available.

What happens if I miss a delivery deadline?

Remedies depend on contract language—common outcomes include cure periods, liquidated damages, or termination rights. Ensure timelines and cure mechanics are clearly stated to limit disputes.

How are royalties audited?

Include audit rights specifying frequency, scope, notice, sample size, and cost allocation. Standard practice allows an external audit once per year with cost-shifting if material underpayment is found.

Can rights revert after termination?

Yes, many agreements include reversion clauses that return rights to the author after breach or specified inactivity, often subject to notice and cure periods and accounting settlements.

What tax info is needed for payments?

U.S. payees should supply a completed Form W-9 or appropriate W-8 form for foreign payees. Missing or incorrect TINs can trigger backup withholding at 24% and delay payments.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
E-book Publishing Contract

E-book Publishing Contract

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

E-book Publishing Contract

This E-book Publishing Contract (the Agreement) is entered into as of by and between:

Author Name: Publisher Name:

Author Address Publisher Address

Recitals

WHEREAS, Author is the sole author and owner of the literary work currently titled "" (the Work), and represents that the Work is original and does not infringe third-party rights; and

WHEREAS, Publisher is engaged in the business of publishing and distributing electronic literary works and desires to acquire certain rights to publish, distribute, and commercially exploit the Work as set forth in this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Publisher shall publish, promote, distribute, and sell the Work in electronic format in the Territory pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Author shall deliver a final manuscript conforming to Publisher's delivery specifications by the Delivery Date below.

Delivery Date Detailed Scope (deliverables, formats, metadata, marketing obligations)

Grant of Rights

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Author grants Publisher the following rights in the Work for the Term described below:

Exclusive electronic publishing rights Non-exclusive electronic publishing rights

Worldwide territory Rights in all languages Right to sublicense for distribution

Payment Terms

Publisher shall pay the Author the following fees and royalties in consideration for the rights granted.

Advance / Initial Payment Amount Royalty Rate to Author (electronic sales) Payment Schedule (dates, thresholds, accounting periods) Late Payment Fee

All payments shall be accompanied by a statement of account prepared by Publisher. Taxes, if any, shall be the responsibility of the party required by applicable law to pay such taxes.

Term and Termination

Term Start Date: Term End Date (or "Perpetual"):

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breach is not cured within days after written notice. Upon termination, all unpaid royalties due through the effective date of termination shall be paid within 60 days and rights shall revert to Author as set forth below.

Upon termination for cause by Author, Publisher shall immediately cease distribution; upon termination without cause, Publisher shall be permitted to sell through existing inventory for a reasonable sell-off period of up to 120 days.

Confidentiality

Each party shall keep confidential all non-public business, financial and creative information disclosed by the other party in connection with this Agreement and shall not disclose such information to third parties except to the extent necessary for performance or as required by law. This obligation shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement for years.

Representations, Warranties and Indemnification

Author represents and warrants that Author is the sole legal owner of the Work, that the Work is original, and that Author has full authority to grant the rights herein. Publisher represents it has the ability to perform its obligations. Each party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other party from any claims, liabilities, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from breach of the foregoing representations and warranties.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that state.

Entire Agreement; Amendment

This Agreement, including any schedules and attachments incorporated by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Work and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Notices

All notices required under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by certified mail, courier, or email (with confirmed receipt) to the addresses below.

Notice Address for Author Notice Address for Publisher

Miscellaneous

Assignment: Neither party may assign this Agreement or any rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party, except that Publisher may assign to an affiliate or successor in interest in connection with a merger or sale of all or substantially all of its assets.

Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Author Name:

By:

Date:

Publisher Name:

By:

Date:

What an E-book Publishing Contract Covers

An E-book Publishing Contract is a written agreement between an author and a publisher (or self-publishing service) that sets the terms for producing, distributing, and monetizing an electronic book. Typical provisions address rights granted (exclusive or nonexclusive), term and territory, royalty rates and accounting, delivery and acceptance of manuscript files, formatting and metadata responsibilities, marketing and distribution channels, termination events, warranties and indemnities, and post-termination reversion of rights. The contract defines payment timing, reporting cadence, audit rights, and any advance or recoupment mechanics that affect how the author is compensated over time.

Why a Clear Publishing Contract Matters

A precise contract protects copyright ownership, clarifies revenue splits, and reduces later disputes by establishing performance expectations and audit rights. It also sets who controls pricing, promotional discounts, and sublicensing for translations or audio versions in specific territories.

Who Typically Signs an E-book Publishing Contract

Parties should confirm authority to bind their organization and prepare supporting corporate or agency documentation when signing.

Independent authors who retain copyright but seek distribution and marketing support
Small or mid-size publishers acquiring digital publication rights
Literary agents negotiating advances, royalties, and subsidiary rights

Essential Clauses to Include in an E-book Publishing Contract

A professional contract groups commercial, technical, and legal terms so both parties know deliverables, payment mechanics, and dispute paths. Include clear language to avoid ambiguity about digital formats, metadata, and update obligations.

Grant of Rights

Specify scope (exclusive/nonexclusive), territory, languages, formats (ePub, mobi, PDF), and any sublicensing rights for audio or translation editions.

Royalties

Define royalty splits by format and channel, payment schedule, reporting frequency, and how returns or refunds affect calculations.

Delivery Requirements

List accepted file types, metadata standards, cover specifications, and delivery deadlines with remedies for missed milestones.

Accounting & Audit

State frequency of royalty statements, audit rights and procedures, and what records the publisher must retain for verification.

Warranties & Indemnities

Author warranties about originality, rights clearance, and indemnification obligations for claims of infringement or defamation.

Termination

Define termination triggers, reversion of rights, notice periods, and handling of existing inventory and royalties after termination.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out an E-book Publishing Contract

Follow these sequential steps to complete and verify the agreement before signatures.

01

Prepare Materials: Gather manuscript, metadata, ID and tax forms.
02

Set Commercial Terms: Agree royalty, advance, and territory details in writing.
03

Complete Contract Fields: Enter names, dates, payment terms, and schedules.
04

Review and Sign: Have legal counsel review and then execute with authorized signers.

How to Customize and Complete the Contract Online

Configure digital fields, conditional clauses, and signer order in your e-signature platform before sending to ensure a smooth workflow.

Field	Configuration
Signature Block	Set required signatures and signer roles
Conditional Clauses	Show or hide sections based on choices
Date and Payment Fields	Use MM/DD/YYYY format and currency validation
Attachments	Allow manuscript or invoice uploads with size limits

Digital Signing, File Types, and Integration Needs

Ensure the chosen solution provides an audit trail, reliable export to PDF/Word, and options for advanced signer authentication when higher assurance is required.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, EPUB accepted
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Security: AES-256 at rest, TLS in transit

Where to Send, File, and Distribute Contract Copies

After execution, route copies to the author, publisher accounting, and legal teams; retain master copies in a secure system.

Author Copy: Send signed PDF to author and their agent
Publisher Records: Store master copy in contract repository
Accounting: Provide invoice and payment schedule to finance
Distribution Partners: Share metadata and delivery files to retailers

Common Timelines and Deadlines to Track

Track delivery dates, royalty reporting periods, and termination notice windows to avoid missed obligations and revenue delays.

Manuscript Delivery:

Date due as specified in contract

Proof Acceptance:

Reviewer turnaround typically 7–14 days

Royalty Reporting:

Quarterly or biannual reporting per agreement

Advance Recoupment:

Apply per sales reporting until recouped

Termination Notice:

Often 30–90 days written notice required

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Contract

Vague rights language that fails to specify formats or sublicensing, leading to later disputes over audio or translation rights.
Missing tax or payment details such as US taxpayer identification for royalty reporting, which can trigger backup withholding at 24%.
Failing to define metadata responsibilities and file delivery standards, resulting in poor discoverability or retailer rejections.
Not documenting who pays for returns, refunds, or promotional price changes, which can leave advance recoupment ambiguous.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete Contract

Royalty Disputes: Delayed or incorrect payments

Copyright Claims: Liability for infringement

Tax Withholding: Backup withholding at 24% if TIN missing

Termination Exposure: Unclear reversion may impede re-publishing

Distribution Delays: Missing metadata can block retailer listings

Reputational Risk: Public disputes harm sales

Typical eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Platform pricing and key feature availability vary; signNow appears first for direct feature comparison across common commercial plans.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Available (Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions About E-book Publishing Contracts

Answers to common legal, practical, and signing questions when preparing or executing an e-book publishing agreement.

Need help? Contact support

Can the contract be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes in most jurisdictions; New York uses ESRA. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and record retention to meet the four-part legal test.
Is notarization required for this contract?
Usually not. Publishing contracts rarely require notarization. If an exhibit or assignment requires notarization, follow state notary rules and consider Remote Online Notarization where available.
What happens if I miss a delivery deadline?
Remedies depend on contract language—common outcomes include cure periods, liquidated damages, or termination rights. Ensure timelines and cure mechanics are clearly stated to limit disputes.
How are royalties audited?
Include audit rights specifying frequency, scope, notice, sample size, and cost allocation. Standard practice allows an external audit once per year with cost-shifting if material underpayment is found.
Can rights revert after termination?
Yes, many agreements include reversion clauses that return rights to the author after breach or specified inactivity, often subject to notice and cure periods and accounting settlements.
What tax info is needed for payments?
U.S. payees should supply a completed Form W-9 or appropriate W-8 form for foreign payees. Missing or incorrect TINs can trigger backup withholding at 24% and delay payments.

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