Rights & Permissions
Protecting your work — and knowing how to use ours
| This page covers rights ownership, licensing, permissions requests, translation rights, and how to reproduce content from Futures Publishing titles. Authors should also refer to their individual contract for specific terms. |
1. Introduction
At Futures Publishing, we take rights seriously — both protecting what belongs to our authors and clearly explaining what belongs to us. This document sets out how copyright works in the context of our publishing agreements, what you may freely do with your own work, and how third parties can request permission to use content from our catalogue.
If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact our Rights Manager directly at rights@futurespublishing.com.
2. Copyright Ownership
Your Rights as the Author
The copyright in any work published by Futures Publishing remains with the author unless explicitly assigned in a separate written agreement. Signing a publishing contract with us is a licence — not a transfer of copyright. This means:
- You retain the right to be identified as the author of the work
- Your moral rights (as defined under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and equivalent legislation) are preserved
- You may use extracts of your own work for personal, promotional, and educational purposes, subject to the conditions in Section 4
- Any future editions, adaptations, or derivative works require your written consent
Rights Licensed to Futures Publishing
When you sign a publishing agreement with us, you grant Futures Publishing a licence to publish, distribute, and market your work in the formats and territories specified in the contract. This licence is typically:
- Exclusive — Futures Publishing is the sole publisher for the agreed formats and territories
- Time-limited — rights revert to you if the book goes out of print or if the contract is terminated
- Format-specific — separate clauses cover print, e-book, audiobook, and subsidiary rights
| Important: If you are approached by any third party to adapt, translate, or license your work, please refer them to our Rights Manager rather than responding directly. Acting outside your contract may create legal complications. |
3. Rights Categories Explained
Publishing rights are divided into several categories. Understanding what each covers helps you know what Futures Publishing controls and what remains yours.
| Rights Category | What It Covers | Held By |
| Volume Rights | Publication in print (hardback, paperback) within agreed territories | Futures Publishing |
| E-book Rights | Digital distribution via retailers (Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, etc.) | Futures Publishing |
| Audiobook Rights | Narrated audio production and distribution | Futures Publishing (if contracted) |
| Translation Rights | Publication in languages other than the original; foreign editions | Futures Publishing (shared income with author) |
| Serialisation Rights | Pre- or post-publication excerpts in newspapers, magazines, or journals | Futures Publishing |
| Anthology Rights | Inclusion of excerpts in curated collections | Futures Publishing |
| Film & TV Rights | Dramatic adaptation for screen or stage | Author (unless separately sold) |
| Merchandise Rights | Products based on characters, settings, or IP from the work | Author (unless separately sold) |
| Educational Rights | Reproduction in course packs, study guides, or academic curricula | Futures Publishing |
| Large Print Rights | Editions for visually impaired readers | Futures Publishing |
| Open Access Rights | Free online distribution (academic/journal content only) | As specified in contract |
| Not sure which rights apply to your contract? Contact rights@futurespublishing.com with your book title and we will provide a rights summary specific to your agreement. |
4. What Authors May Do With Their Own Work
Permitted Without Prior Approval
As the copyright holder, you are free to do the following without seeking written permission from Futures Publishing:
- Quote up to 400 words from your book in interviews, talks, blog posts, or social media
- Read aloud from your book at public or private events
- Share the book cover image (provided by Futures Publishing) for promotional purposes
- Link to your book’s page on the Futures Publishing website or retailer listings
- Include a short biography referencing the book on your personal or professional profiles
Requires Written Approval
The following uses require written permission from your Commissioning Editor or the Rights Manager before proceeding:
- Reproducing more than 400 words in any single publication or digital post
- Serialising a chapter or substantial portion in a newspaper, magazine, or online publication
- Creating a podcast episode, video, or audio recording that reads significant portions of the text
- Licensing any part of the work to a third party (school, university, corporate, etc.)
- Self-publishing a revised, expanded, or translated version of the work
- Including the work in a bundle, box set, or anthology with other publishers
| When in doubt, ask first. Rights@futurespublishing.com will always aim to respond within 5 working days. |
5. Requesting Permission to Use Our Content
Who Should Apply
Any person, organisation, or institution wishing to reproduce, adapt, translate, or otherwise use content from a Futures Publishing title must submit a formal permissions request. This includes:
- Academics and researchers wishing to quote extensively in publications
- Teachers and educators creating course packs or classroom materials
- Journalists and critics wishing to reproduce text beyond fair dealing
- Broadcasters, podcasters, and content creators
- Other publishers seeking anthology or co-edition rights
- Translators and foreign publishers
How to Submit a Permissions Request
All permissions requests must be submitted in writing to rights@futurespublishing.com. Please include the following information:
- Your full name, organisation, and contact details
- The title, author, and ISBN of the Futures Publishing work
- The exact passage(s) you wish to reproduce (page numbers and word count)
- The purpose and context of the reproduction (educational, commercial, editorial, etc.)
- The format in which it will appear (print, digital, broadcast, etc.)
- The territory and language of publication
- The print run or expected audience size
- The proposed publication date
Processing Time & Fees
We aim to respond to all permissions requests within 10 working days. Please submit requests at least 4 weeks before your publication or broadcast deadline.
| Use Type | Typical Fee | Turnaround |
| Educational / Non-commercial | Reduced or waived | 5–7 working days |
| Commercial / Editorial | Fee quoted on application | 10 working days |
| Anthology / Co-edition | Negotiated | 10–15 working days |
| Translation licence | Advance + royalty basis | 2–4 weeks |
| Film / TV / Dramatic adaptation | Negotiated (author involved) | On enquiry |
| Permissions are granted in writing only. Verbal confirmation from any member of staff does not constitute an authorised permission. Always obtain written sign-off before reproducing content. |
6. Translation & Foreign Rights
Futures Publishing actively sells translation and foreign rights to publishers around the world. Our Rights Manager attends major international book fairs — including Frankfurt, London, Bologna, and Sharjah — to pitch our catalogue to overseas publishers and agents.
How Translation Deals Work
- A foreign publisher or literary agent expresses interest in a title
- Futures Publishing notifies the author and shares a summary of the offer
- Author approval is sought before any agreement is concluded
- A translation licence is negotiated, specifying territory, language, term, advance, and royalty
- The author receives 50% of net income from all translation licences
- The translated edition is published under the foreign publisher’s imprint
What You Can Do to Support Rights Sales
- Keep your author bio and book information up to date with your Commissioning Editor
- Inform us of any international media coverage, awards, or recognition your book receives
- Let us know if you have existing relationships with foreign publishers or agents
- Attend rights meetings at book fairs if invited — your presence can help close deals
| If a foreign publisher or translator contacts you directly about acquiring rights to your work, please forward the enquiry to rights@futurespublishing.com rather than responding yourself. Acting independently could invalidate your contract. |
7. Fair Dealing & Educational Use
UK copyright law (and equivalent legislation in other territories) allows limited use of copyright material without permission under the doctrine of ‘fair dealing’. This applies when the use is for:
- Non-commercial research or private study
- Criticism, review, or commentary — provided the source is acknowledged
- News reporting
- Teaching in an educational establishment (limited extracts only)
- Quotation (short extracts with sufficient acknowledgement)
Fair dealing does not permit reproducing entire chapters, substantial portions of a text, or any use that could harm the commercial value of the original work. If you are unsure whether your intended use qualifies as fair dealing, we recommend seeking a formal permissions clearance to avoid any dispute.
| Futures Publishing is a supporter of accessible publishing. We work with the RNIB, CLA, and similar organisations to ensure content reaches readers with disabilities. Contact rights@futurespublishing.com to discuss accessible format requests. |
8. Digital Use & Open Access
Website & Social Media
Short promotional use of book content on social media, author websites, and newsletters is encouraged. Guidelines:
- Extracts on author websites: up to 500 words, with a link back to the book’s purchase page
- Social media posts: short quotes or passages are welcome; always credit the title and publisher
- Do not upload full chapters, PDF copies, or e-book files anywhere online
- Do not share your personal e-book copy with others or post it to file-sharing platforms
Open Access (Academic & Journal Titles)
Some Futures Publishing journal articles and academic titles are available under open access agreements. If your work is published under an open access licence (such as Creative Commons), the specific terms will be stated on the publication’s copyright page and on our website. Open access does not mean the work has no copyright — attribution and licence conditions still apply.
AI Training & Automated Reproduction
Content published by Futures Publishing may not be used to train artificial intelligence models, large language models, or any automated text-generation systems without explicit written permission. This applies to both scraped website content and licensed digital editions. Violations will be pursued under applicable copyright law.
9. Reversion of Rights
Rights can revert to the author under certain conditions specified in the publishing contract. Common reversion triggers include:
- The book going out of print for a continuous period (typically 12–24 months) without the publisher reprinting
- The publisher failing to publish the work within the agreed timeframe after delivery
- Termination of the contract by mutual agreement
- Breach of contract by the publisher
How to Request Reversion
- Write to your Commissioning Editor formally requesting reversion of rights
- Cite the relevant clause in your contract
- Allow 60 days for the publisher to respond or remedy the situation
- If the conditions are confirmed, reversion is granted in writing by the Rights Manager
- All licensed editions (translations, etc.) in force at the time of reversion remain valid until their individual term expires
| We encourage authors to contact us before initiating a formal reversion request. Many situations — including low sales periods or format changes — can be resolved through conversation. |
10. Rights Contacts
| Query Type | Contact | |
| Permissions requests (third-party) | Rights Manager | rights@futurespublishing.com |
| Author use of own work | Commissioning Editor | editorial@futurespublishing.com |
| Translation & foreign rights | Rights Manager | rights@futurespublishing.com |
| Reversion requests | Commissioning Editor | editorial@futurespublishing.com |
| Film / TV / Adaptation enquiries | Rights Manager | rights@futurespublishing.com |
| General rights queries | General enquiries | info@futurespublishing.com |
We aim to respond to all rights and permissions enquiries within 10 working days. For urgent requests, please mark your email subject line URGENT — RIGHTS QUERY.
Futures Publishing
Shaping the stories of tomorrow.
futurespublishing.com | rights@futurespublishing.com