DEED FOR AUTHORS

YOUR BOOK. YOUR TERMS.

Publishing deals that keep options you want to keep, and AI training answered explicitly, not by default.

THE SITUATION

A publishing contract is dense on purpose. The author reads it twice, the publisher reads it every day, and the difference in familiarity is where rights get quietly signed away.

The rise of AI training is turning old boilerplate into new leverage. Rights granted broadly ten years ago now cover uses no one imagined at the time.

THE RISKS

WHAT BREAKS.

01
OPTION CLAUSES
Right of first refusal on future work at terms tied to the current deal.
02
AUDIO AND TRANSLATION
Bundled rights sold cheaper than they would be separately.
03
AI TRAINING
Text licensed to publishers who quietly relicense it to model developers.
04
OUT OF PRINT WITHOUT REVERSION
Books no longer available but rights not reverted to the author.
05
GHOSTWRITING
Long form written for a name author with no signed record of contribution or credit.
HOW DEED HELPS

FOUR STEPS.

01DROP

Upload the contract and any option or side letter.

02EXAMINE

Deed reads the clauses in plain language and shows what is unusual, and what is standard but bad.

03EXECUTE

Counter drafts, side letters and AI carve outs signed and stored with the deal.

04DEFEND

Track uses of your work in datasets and translations, and invoice or block when appropriate.

QUESTIONS
+Should I sign an option clause?
Only if the terms make sense on their own. Deed shows you what the option is really worth and how to narrow it.
+Can I stop my book being used to train AI?
You can require permission and a fee. Deed adds that clause and makes the answer readable through our public API.
+How do I get rights back for an out of print book?
Trigger the reversion clause, or negotiate one if it is missing. Deed drafts the letter and tracks the reply.

START A DEED.