Rights or distribution: an analysis of factors influencing publishers’ ability to sell rights or to distribute into a foreign region

When a publisher wishes to make its books available to the international market, they have two methods of accessing this market. They can either sell foreign rights or distribute their books directly into the international market. This report seeks to understand if a publisher can and should sell rights or distribute, or do both. The historical development of selling rights and international distribution are presented. Two contrasting case-study publishers (Simon & Schuster and Raincoast Books) are used to illustrate the current state of international rights sales and of international distribution. Specific examples from each firm allow this project report to analyze the factors influencing a publisher's ability to sell rights or distribute. As a result of this analysis, this report concludes with a table of key questions that a publisher should ask themselves when considering whether they can and should sell rights or distribute into a foreign region.