Actually, I'd be more inclined to believe that it has to do with Simon & Schuster's net attempts at an authors' rights grab - and the fact that the Strange New Worlds contracts include a minimum sales requirements for a work to be considered in print.
kirby_crow mentioned Simon & Schuster's new policy in regards to FanLib's possible corporate partnerships in a post here: http://telesilla.livejournal.com/555817.html?replyto=4441641&style=mine
The Author's Guild warning excerpt: Simon & Schuster has changed its standard contract language in an attempt to retain exclusive control of books even after they have gone out of print. Until now, Simon & Schuster, like all other major trade publishers, has followed the traditional practice in which rights to a work revert to the author if the book falls out of print or if its sales are low.
The publisher is signaling that it will no longer include minimum sales requirements for a work to be considered in print. Simon & Schuster is apparently seeking nothing less than an exclusive grant of rights in perpetuity. Effectively, the publisher would co-own your copyright.
The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it’s available in any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores.
Complete warning is here: http://www.edrants.com/?p=6127
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timeasmymeasure
Simon & Schuster - Author Rights Grab
Date: 2007-05-27 08:36 pm (UTC)http://telesilla.livejournal.com/555817.html?replyto=4441641&style=mine
The Author's Guild warning excerpt:
Simon & Schuster has changed its standard contract language in an attempt to retain exclusive control of books even after they have gone out of print. Until now, Simon & Schuster, like all other major trade publishers, has followed the traditional practice in which rights to a work revert to the author if the book falls out of print or if its sales are low.
The publisher is signaling that it will no longer include minimum sales requirements for a work to be considered in print. Simon & Schuster is apparently seeking nothing less than an exclusive grant of rights in perpetuity. Effectively, the publisher would co-own your copyright.
The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it’s available in any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores.
Complete warning is here: http://www.edrants.com/?p=6127