Copyrights: Ruling on Royalties from Subsequent Editions of Creative Works

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Copyrights: Ruling on Royalties from Subsequent Editions of Creative Works

English:

Question #1329:

Suppose that the writer, translator, or artist received a fee for the first edition of their piece of work, and, at the same time made a provision that they are to be given a share in the proceeds from selling the subsequent edition. Are they justified in demanding a share of the proceeds of subsequent sales? And how should the money, received in such a way, be treated?

Answer #1329:

In case the owner of the work has made a provision in the contract reached for delivering the original one that he should receive an amount of money for the subsequent editions or the law requires so, then there is no objection to receive it and the publisher is obliged to observe the provision.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Copyrights