A case quietly filed in New York Supreme Court this summer demonstrates the perils of issuing previously published works as ebooks without all parties being crystal clear on who controls those rights. At issue is the ebook edition of Susan Vreeland’s 1999 bestseller GIRL IN HYACINTH BLUE, originally published by McMurray & Beck (later absorbed into MacAdam/Cage). In the breach of contract complaint filed on June 20, the novel’s paperback publisher Penguin is suing MacAdam/Cage, alleging the small press licensed Penguin ebook rights that they did not control. The original licensing agreement between Penguin and McMurray & Beck made no […]
