What Does That Mean? A Glossary for Indie Authors Navigating Publishing & Foreign Rights

Publishing a book is a huge achievement. But the moment you start exploring how to share it with readers outside your home market, the terms can get confusing fast. What exactly are "subsidiary rights"? What's the difference between a "publisher" and a "rights buyer"? And why do some authors get an advance while others don't?

This glossary is designed for indie authors like you, whether you're newly published or just starting your journey. We've grouped key terms into themes to make it easier to navigate. Our goal is to clarify the foreign rights world and give you the confidence to explore global opportunities.

Types of Rights & Licensing

Audio Rights
The right to produce and distribute an audio version of a book.

Dramatic Rights
The right to adapt a book for stage, film, or television.

Exclusive Rights
A licensing arrangement where only one buyer can use the rights in the defined territory and format.

Film/TV Rights
A subset of dramatic rights specific to film and television adaptations.

Foreign Rights
The rights to publish a book in another language or country. On DropCap Marketplace, this connects your book to international publishers.

Non-Exclusive Rights
A rights agreement allowing the same work to be licensed to multiple buyers.

Subsidiary Rights
Additional rights beyond print publication, like translation, audio, or adaptation. Often licensed separately.

Territory
The geographic region where rights apply (e.g., North America, Germany, Southeast Asia).

Translation Rights
Rights to translate a work into another language. A common foreign rights license.

Publishing & Platform Terms

Backlist
Books published more than a year ago. Still relevant for licensing.

Frontlist
Newly released titles (typically within the last 12 months).

Imprint
A division of a publishing house with a specific branding or audience focus.

ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
A unique identifier for books, required for distribution and sales tracking.

Manuscript
The unpublished or in-progress version of a book.

Metadata
The information that helps others find your book: title, author name, genre, description, ISBN, etc.

Self-Publishing
When authors publish their work independently, often using platforms like KDP or IngramSpark.

Traditional Publishing
A model where publishers invest in and distribute a book, usually in exchange for rights and royalties.

Key Players in Rights Deals

Acquisitions Editor
The person at a publishing house responsible for selecting books to license or publish.

Agent
A representative who negotiates deals on behalf of authors. DropCap's in-house rights team acts in a similar way for Marketplace titles.

Author
The creator of the written work.

Editor
A publishing professional who helps refine and polish a manuscript before publication.

Publisher
An entity that prints, distributes, and sells books. May also acquire foreign rights to translate and distribute titles abroad.

Rights Buyer
Typically an editor or publishing executive acquiring rights to publish a book in their local market.

Rights Holder
The person or company that owns the rights to a book. This is often the author, especially in self-publishing.

Contracts & Financials

Advance
A payment made upfront to the rights holder when a licensing deal is signed. Often recoupable against future royalties.

Contract
A legal agreement between rights holder and buyer defining terms of the licensing arrangement.

DRM (Digital Rights Management)
Technology used to protect digital content from unauthorized copying.

Licensing Fee
The amount a buyer pays for the right to publish or distribute a book.

Net Sales
The revenue received after returns and discounts. Often used to calculate royalties.

Royalty
A percentage of book sales paid to the rights holder over time, as outlined in the contract.

Term (of Contract)
The length of time the licensing deal is active. Common terms range from 3 to 10 years.

How It Works on DropCap Marketplace

Listing
Your book's profile on the Marketplace. Includes metadata, cover image, sample pages, and more.

Marketplace
DropCap Marketplace is a global platform where rights buyers browse and acquire books for translation or international distribution.

Visibility
The discoverability of your book to buyers. All Marketplace listings are visible to our network of qualified rights buyers.

Promotion
DropCap promotes listings through curated collections, newsletters, and rights catalogs shared with global publishers.

Ready to take your book global?