Author Rights & Agreement
Independent Publishing Contract
A fair, author-first agreement written in plain English. Your book stays yours, you have the final say, and every term is explained before you sign.
Request the Full Agreementp. 01 Included in your agreement
What You Will Receive
Every agreement is built around the services your book needs, delivered by one coordinated team.
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Editorial & Proofreading
Professional editing across up to five rounds, with a final proofread before anything is printed.
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Bespoke Design
A custom cover and a clean, professional interior designed for your genre and readers.
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Publishing & Distribution
Print and digital editions prepared to retailer standards and released to readers.
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Marketing & Promotion
Launch and promotion support chosen to suit your book, your goals and your budget.
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An Expert Team
One dedicated project manager coordinating your editor, designer and marketing specialists.
p. 02 Our commitments
What We Guarantee
Some things are never up for negotiation. These commitments are part of every UK Publishing agreement.
Talk to Our Team-
01
100% ownership of your work
Your book and its copyright stay yours. The agreement never transfers ownership to us.
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02
Final say over your content
No significant change to your words or design is made without your approval.
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03
Confidentiality from day one
Your manuscript is treated as confidential, and we sign NDAs on request.
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04
A clear, written scope
Services, deliverables and timeline are agreed in writing before any work begins.
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05
Plain English, no surprises
Your project manager will walk you through every clause before you sign.
p. 03 The agreement
Our Author Agreement, in Plain English
Here is what each part of the agreement covers. You receive the complete agreement with your proposal, and your project manager will go through it with you line by line.
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1
Definitions
The agreement starts by defining the key terms used throughout: you as the Author, UK Publishing as the service provider, your Work (the manuscript and any illustrations or material you supply), the Services we provide and what counts as Confidential Information.
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2
Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure
Both sides agree to keep each other’s confidential information private and not to share it with third parties without written consent. Your unpublished manuscript is protected from the first conversation, and a separate NDA is available on request.
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3
Scope of Services
The services you choose, whether editing, design, formatting, publishing, marketing or ghostwriting, are set out in a written proposal covering scope, deliverables and timeline. Once you accept it, the proposal forms part of the agreement, so you always know exactly what you are getting.
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4
Your Responsibilities as Author
You confirm that you own the work (or have permission to use it), that it doesn’t infringe anyone else’s rights and that it is lawful. You also agree to supply the materials we need and to review drafts and proofs so the project keeps moving.
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5
Ownership, Rights & Royalties
You keep full ownership of your book and its copyright. The agreement only gives us the limited permission needed to produce, publish and promote your book on your behalf. How royalties from retailers are handled for your book is set out clearly in your agreement before you sign.
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6
Fees & Payments
Fees are based on the written quote for your project, with no bundled extras. Your proposal sets out the payment schedule and the terms that apply to your project, so there are no surprises.
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7
Approvals & Creative Control
You have creative control. We share drafts, cover concepts and proofs for your review, and nothing is published until you approve the final files. Approving the final proof confirms your consent to publish.
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8
Using Your Book in Our Portfolio
With your agreement, we may show your approved cover and short extracts in our portfolio and marketing. You can tell us if you would prefer us not to.
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9
Ending the Agreement
The agreement explains how either side can end it if the other doesn’t keep to its terms, what is payable for work already completed, and which protections, such as confidentiality and your ownership, continue afterwards.
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10
Liability, Indemnity & Legal Terms
Like any professional services contract, the full agreement also covers liability, indemnity, events outside either party’s control, the independent relationship between us, and the law that governs the agreement.
Want to read every clause?
Request the complete agreement and we’ll send it with a no-obligation proposal for your book.
§ Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t find what you need? Our team will gladly help.
Contact Us01 Do I keep the rights to my book?
Yes. You keep 100% ownership of your work and its copyright. The agreement only lets us produce and publish the book on your behalf.
02 Can I read the full agreement before I sign?
Yes. We send the complete agreement with your proposal, and your project manager will walk you through any clause you’d like explained.
03 Will anything be published without my approval?
No. You approve the edited manuscript, cover and final proofs before anything goes live.
04 Do you sign NDAs?
Yes. Confidentiality is built into the agreement, and a separate NDA is available on request.
Publish on Fair, Author-First Terms
Keep your rights, keep the final say and work with a team that explains everything. Start with a free consultation.