Publishers' Contracts
SIR.—Janus asks: "What happens if a publisher declines to carry out an agreement to publish?" The answer to the question would appear to be that, if a work after acceptance is discovered to contain inaccurate statements, libellous matter or words tending to a breach of the peace, the publisher is not obliged to issue it unless the matter in question is deleted. If the author agrees to the omission of the words to which objection is taken, then the publisher has the alternative of honouring his contract or offering the author a sum to cancel the bargain if, for some additional reason, he decides not to issue the work. In this latter event, if the author declines the indemnity offered as being too little, he can take legal pro- ceedings for damages to be assessed ; but this may be a step, after solicitor and client costs have been paid, which leaves him with a smaller amount than that offered by the publisher.—Yours faithfully, EVELEIGH NAsH.
Travellers' Club, Pall Mall, S.W.I.
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