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<div>I can’t answer all of your questions, but I have a few comments. </div>
<div dir="ltr">Look at a copy of the book to see who holds the copyright. It is probably the two authors. The copyright (or your decedent’s half interest in it) is what is most important to transfer.</div>
<div dir="ltr">If you have a copy of the book, the name of the publisher should be on it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Most (not all) publishing contracts provide that the authors assign the copyright to the publisher for as long as the publisher keeps the book in print. And if the publisher lets the book go out of print (say, for six months or more), the copyright
reverts to the authors.</div>
<div dir="ltr">You have some detective work to do.</div>
<div dir="ltr">At a minimum, you should assign the decedent's interest in the qcopyright and any interest the decedent had in any publishing agreement involving the book.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Phil Jones</div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> on behalf of Jennifer L White <jen@appletreelaw.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, November 17, 2022 3:30:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Transfer of Book Rights?</font>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal">Hello Listserv Colleagues,</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">I have a probate asset situation for which I would appreciate your input. I am looking for information on the correct way for an estate to transfer decedent’s rights in a book he wrote. The decedent co-wrote a book on an esoteric niche
topic years ago. There were a certain number of books printed. I do not know if they self-published, but there is no record of a publishing contract. At this point, all of the books are sold or otherwise disposed of. The other co-author is also now deceased,
but I’m not worried about dealing with that aspect, only transferring our estate’s interest. There is one beneficiary in the family that shares the same enthusiasm for the subject matter as the decedent. He has expressed interest that at some future date,
he may want to write an update to his father’s work. There is no definitive plan that it will actually happen, just that he may want to do it. I want to correctly transfer this “interest” to him so that years from now if he decides to go forward, he has whatever
documentation is needed to vest him with the interest. </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Can I prepare a simple assignment describing the interest as best as we can and then distributing it to him with the signature of the PR? OR, is there some more official/formal way of handling it? Bonus, if you have a form for accomplishing
this task that you are willing to share, I will be forever grateful <span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">
😊</span> </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Thanks in Advance,</p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold"">Jennifer L. White, Esq.</span>
<span style="font-family:"Script MT Bold""></span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jen@appletreelaw.com"><span style="font-style:normal">jen@appletreelaw.com</span></a></span></i></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif">PO Box 11037</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif">Yakima, WA 98909</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif">509.225.9813</span></p>
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