Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Freedom of Speech & Censorship on the Internet :: social issues

Freedom of Speech & Censorship on the Internet Introduction With more and more frequency the newspapers are reporting instances of school children distributing disks of pornographic images which they have downloaded from the net and recently a university student was found to be operating such a site for material. On November 11, an Associated Press release (Phillips,1994) reported that Carnegie Mellon University had decided to block its users from accessing sexually explicit materials through the Internet: the university's president feared that the university could be prosecuted under state pornography laws if it did not control the access. Within the last week Towson State has prevented access to all of the alt.* groups on the Usenet which include alt.binaries.pictures.* which has sexually explicit pictures. Towson State has also included a warning on their home page that there may be pornographic material on the Internet. Pornographic material is not the only material to be found on the net which can raise questions of censorship and contro l: discussion of racial, political, religious and sexual topics all run the risk of offending someone, somewhere, leading to demands for control of the Internet. The question of censorship may also be raised in some unexpected places: one newsgroup is the rec.humor list, which is a collection of jokes submitted to subscribers. There are straightforwardly rude jokes but others are politically incorrect, focusing on sexual stereotypes, mothers-in-law, women and so on. It has been suggested (Interpersonal Computing and Technology, 1994) that discretionary warning labels could be attached to potentially offensive material. With warning labels like those on records this may serve to whet appetites. Warning labels involve some sort of judging and then the question is raised as to who shall be the judge. The Internet is world-wide so would the First Amendment apply in Germany? The material on the Internet which is grossly offensive by any standards, such as paedophile material, is extremely difficult to find because of its small amounts. Of the 976 obscenity cases handled between 1991 and 1993 only 11 involved computer files, while 0.3% of the obscene material seized by Customs staff in 1992-93 were computer items (Cornwall, 1994). This paper considers the question of censorship on the Internet - does it exist, in what form, should it exist and what should be censored? The Internet To understand many of the questions raised an understanding of how the Internet originated is important.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Macbeth: Hero or Villain? Essay

The first time in the play we hear about Macbeth is in the very first scene. The witches are discussing when they shall next meet again, and one of the witches says ‘There to meet with Macbeth’. We are yet to read about Macbeth to discover his character but because of this scene we know somehow he is or will be associated with some kind of evil. Although when we read this nowadays we do not get frightened by this fact but in the sixteenth century when this play was written the audience would have been as they believed in witchcraft. The second time we hear about Macbeth is in scene two. In this scene he is described by a Captain, he describes him ‘brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name’. The captain says this as Macbeth has defended the rebellion of Highlanders and Islanders. We still haven’t heard Macbeth himself but we have two conflicting opinions of him. The first time we hear from Macbeth is in scene three. As the witches said, he met them on the heath. He is with Banquo, his best friend. He is greeted by the witches and they greeted him ‘All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis’ they also say Thane of Cawdor and then the third witch says ‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter’. They then tell Banquo his future and how his son will be King. I think that this is the very first stage of the change in Macbeth’s future. Their predictions make him fell more and more confident, then when he is made Thane of Glamis he feels superior as he has a strong feeling that he will one day be King. I think if Macbeth had not have been superstitious so he believed the witches he wouldn’t think he was so indestructible and then would not have been do evil. When Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor after the Thane before was killed for treason, he writes a letter to his wife, he tells her about the witches’ predictions. I think this letter is the spark that starts Lady Macbeth’s own evil, as she is pleased with what the letter says, however she knows that although Macbeth has ambition he ‘is too full o’ the milk of human kindness’ to act upon the prediction. When Duncan stays with Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth plans to kill him, she calls on evil spirits to ‘unsex’ her, so she is not feminine as women were seen as meek and feeble so she could carry out the murder of Duncan. She tells Macbeth to leave killing up to her. When Duncan arrives, Lady Macbeth greets him warmly; she doesn’t seem to show any emotions of remorse at this point. When the banquet is taking place Macbeth thinks over the decision to kill Duncan, finally he decides the murder will not go ahead – this decision shows that Macbeth is not truly evil. However when he tells his wife he doesn’t want to go ahead with the murder she talks him around by saying things such as if he were a real man he wouldn’t back out and how if she had promised something to him she wouldn’t break her promise. The way she says this is very powerful and underlines just how evil she could be, as she says ‘I have given suck, and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me – I would while it was smiling in my face have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this’. I think the baby she describes is maybe a child that they lost, as we do not hear of this child apart from this in the play. I think she used the child as an example in her promise as it is something that they both feel strongly for and it brings them closely together. Before Lady Macbeth talks Macbeth into backing out of killing, in his soliloquy in Act one scene seven, Macbeth shows his conscience, he feels he doesn’t want to go ahead with the murder, although when he talks about killing Duncan he never mentions the word ‘murder’. At this point we still don’t really know if Macbeth is a villain or hero yet. Lady Macbeth was suppose to carry out the murder but she saw Duncan sleeping and said that she could not do it as he looked like his father, this shows that she in not totally evil either. Macbeth hallucinates a dagger pointing towards Duncan’s chamber before his murder showing he is unstable mentally and maybe nervous. These nerves make him kill the two guards that slept with Duncan and over react when the murder is revealed. After the murder Macbeth is made King as the Kings two sons had fled from Scotland. Now all of his predictions from the witches have come true, he feels threatened as the witches also predicted that Banquo’s son would be king. Now as he has already killed three people he sets out to kill Banquo and his son, Felance. Banquo is his best friend, so this really shows how Macbeth’s character is really changing for the worst. This time he doesn’t do it himself, he sends two murders that he persuades in such a way we’ve heard before. He tells them that if they were real men they would carry out the murders, this sounds like the type of persuasion that Lady Macbeth used on her husband so he would commit the murder of th e King. At the banquet he pretends he does not know when Banquo is and is upset that he isn’t there, but then he sees Banquo’s ghost. He is uneasy and he nearly says too much about all the murders when he gets upset and confused after he sees the ghost, but Lady Macbeth stops him in time and makes up a story of how he is ill so the guests do not suspect a thing. In Act four he goes back to see the witches. They tell him he is safe until Birnam wood comes to Dunsianane, and never by a man of woman born shall he be harmed. Macbeth can now relax, he thinks, as everyone is born of a woman and the wood will never move. They also tell him another prediction of Banquo’s children on the throne, this is still possible as the two murderers failed to kill Banquo’s son, Felance. Macbeth’s next actions, I think show just how much his mind is evil and he seems not to care or have any conscience left, and he sends an army to kill Macduff’s family! The first description we hear of Macbeth is ‘brave Macbeth’, but in Act four scene three Macduff describes him as a ‘tyrant’, his personality seems have to changed. In Act five scene four Lady Macbeth kills herself. At the start of the play Macbeth and his wife seem very close, but when she dies Macbeth is not moved in any way he shows no emotion at all, he is cold as if he has hardened to people dying. He says ‘she should have died hereafter’. His life seems meaningless; he doesn’t care for anything or anyone anymore, not even his wife. The army that are attacking his castle carry bits of trees from Birnam wood – Birnam wood seems to be moving. Now I thing this shows that his superstition has really ruined him. He seems to know he is going to die, he says ‘At least we will die with harness on our backs’, he wants to die a solider – but as the witches said no man of woman born can kill him. When the army attacks the castle he fights Macduff – it is then Macbeth finds out that Macduff was born of caesarean – I think now Macbeth is puzzled; should he carry on fighting or just give up? Macbeth’s last words are ‘Hold, enough!’ He almost seems childlike and in a last grasp for breath he shouts this. Ultimately Macbeth is a villain, but factors that helped to bring out these feelings are his wife, his own ambition and the fact that he was too quick to believe to witches and too trusting. Macbeth may have been a hero but he died a villain.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Pursuit Of Happiness By Thomas Paine And Declaration...

Pursuit of Happiness In one’s life, change in daily routine is always difficult to adjust whether it is good change or bad change. According to the human nature, â€Å"good change† is always something where he or she is move ahead in life for better and where there is positive gain coming. A â€Å"bad change† is where one have to forcefully or unwillingly move ahead in life and where there is no gain or possible loss. When bad changes become unbearable and unfair, it starts revolution. Common Sense by Thomas Paine and Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson plays major contribution in American Revolution which made common men realize true color of selfish and unfair monarchy system of Britain. A revolution occurs when a king or government is misusing their power and mistreating their people. American Revolution was a little different in which the king of England did not mistreat the colonist at first. King George III loved the colonies as much as he loved England. After the French and Indian War, England had a lot of war debt and they were having a hard time paying the debt with tax revenue that they were getting. The colonist saw all the taxes impose upon them they got tired of it and decided the they want independence from the Great Britain. According to Thomas Paine, Society is everything good that people do and that we would not need government if everyone was good to each other. Government is like â€Å"necessary evil† it is only needed when they have to suppress the evil inShow MoreRelatedThomas Paine Common Sense Analysis1052 Words   |  5 Pageswriting by examining â€Å"The Declaration of Independence† and Thomas Paine’s â€Å"Common Sense.† Basically, the two documents echo principles stated in John Locke’s â€Å"Second Treatise of Government,† and share a style of expressing their feelings on national issues; the authors examine and give reasons for colonial problems with the government and offer a solution. The tone and audience might vary, but the overall message is similar in its principles, showing the impact Locke and Paine had on such a vital documentRead MoreAmerican Ideology By Benjamin Franklin1084 Words   |  5 Pagesthe ideas of utility still exist today . Independence and the American Ideology American ideology, the basis for almost all American’s themes, simply cannot be defined in a few simple words. However, independence forms the foundation for American ideology because without freedom, American ideology cannot exist without many other factors influencing it. In Thomas Jefferson’s â€Å"Declaration of Independence,† and Thomas Paine’s â€Å"Common Sense† independence plays a crucial role in the founding of AmericaRead MoreDeclaration Of Independence Analysis704 Words   |  3 PagesThe Declaration of Independence The overall purpose of the Declaration of Independence was that the Colonies living in the North America were seeking separation from the British. The reason why they want this separation is that they want the right to appoint people who will lead them. Also, they want to end the abuse and the tyranny of the King of Great Britain. Common Sense This article argues that there is a big difference between the government and the society. In this article, Thomas Paine illustratesRead MoreThomas Paine s Political Pamphlet925 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Paine’s Political Pamphlet Thomas Paine’s political pamphlet entitled Common Sense was a very inspirational piece of writing. Common Sense stirred the American colonists who were pursuing independence. It was also a persuasive piece of writing for the American colonists who were unsure if they wanted to split their ways with Great Britain, or not. Throughout the political pamphlet Paine argues that the colonist were not dependent on Great Britain. He makes powerful points regarding how theRead MoreCommon Sense And The Declaration Of Independence1517 Words   |  7 PagesCommon Sense and the Declaration of Independence are two very important documents in American history. Written by Thomas Paine, although not an official document, promotes thoughts that the citizens understood and needed, but did not know how to express their actions and ideas. The Declaration states the necessary reasons for independence in the colonies as well as the importance that their are equal rights. The Declaration announced to the world as a unanimous decision that the thirteen coloniesRead MoreImpact Of The Enlightenment And The French Revolution1015 Words   |  5 PagesAmericans, such as Thomas Jefferson drew inspiration from John Locke, who believed that every human born, was born with a blank slate. John Locke also insisted that people be given the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. These Enlightenment ideas went on to also inspire a man named Thomas Paine, who wrote a document titled â€Å"Common Sense†. He wrote this document in hopes to inspire the 13 colonies to come together again Great Britain to gain their independence; it worked. In he heRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : The United States1552 Words   |  7 Pageslife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This however was not always the case for the United States. It was once ruled by King George III, and the American people were under the control of the British Parliament. It is what the founding fa thers of our country fought for, that made it possible for the United States to be what our country is today. This was only possible by their bravery and the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was a document that wasRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The United States Of America Essay1411 Words   |  6 Pagesglobalization and equality up to this very day. The Declaration of Independence states that every citizen is granted the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, it marks the turning point in American history where the United States gained its independence from the British Government. The Declaration of Independence argues for the protection of people’s, and to a certain extent, negates government power. Embedded in the Declaration, it states â€Å"whenever any form of government becomesRead MoreSimilarities Between Common Sense And The Declaration Of Independence1489 Words   |  6 Pagesand indirectly affected the American Revolution are The Declaration of Independence (July 1776), Thomas Paine’s â€Å"Common Sense† (January 1776), and John Locke’s â€Å"Second Treatise of Government† (1689). All of these documents are related to one another in the fact that they paved the way for the future of America and led to the amazing country we live in today. To start off, there are many similarities in regards to The Declaration of Independence and â€Å"Common Sense†. We can see these documents agreeRead MoreCommon Sense By Thomas Paine957 Words   |  4 Pagespamphlet known as Common Sense was written by Thomas Paine in 1776. This pamphlet contributed in promoting the independence of America. In the pamphlet Thomas Paine challenged the American colonists to separate from England and create a democratic and independent society. Along with challenging the American colonists, he hinted at his own opinions about a democratic government that America should plan towards if they seek to separate from England. Thomas Paine also bluntly proposed that the monarchy was

Friday, December 27, 2019

Psy 230 Fall 2016 Paper Assignment Essay - 1064 Words

Charlie Student. PSY 230 – Fall 2016–PAPER ASSIGNMENT, REVIEW OF ARTICLE #1 Article. Ryan, Caitlin Ryan; Russell, Stephen, T.; Huebner, David; Diaz, Rafael; Sanchez, Jorge, 2010, Family Acceptance in Adolescence and the Health of LGBT young Adults, Journal of Child and Adolescence Psychiatric Nursing, Volume 23, pp. 205-213 Research Question. In this article, the key research questions and hypothesis proposed are: 1) does the family acceptance and supportive behavior predicts show a difference in †¦self-esteem, social support, general health status, depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and behaviors (cite?) and can be influential to the health and mental health of LGBT adolescents and young adults? 2) Can the relationship between family and their children s LGBT identity as they go into adulthood effect their health and mental health status? The hypothesis states that being accepted of LGBT adolescents can be connected to a decreased in mental and behavior health s then increasing the chance of having positive influences in the phases of their adulthood. Sample. The LGBT young adults and adolescents were the two populations that were selected in this participatory research. They selected participants who matched their study based on age (21-25), self-identification to ethnicity to LGBT and having a minima l of one parent during the adolescence LGBT life experience. The LGBT young adults that were enlisted was taken sampled of 245 Latino andShow MoreRelatedPrenatal Alcohol Exposure And Childhood Behavior At Age 6822 Words   |  4 PagesAshley Avalos. PSY 230 – Fall 2016–PAPER ASSIGNMENT, REVIEW OF ARTICLE #1 Article. Sood, B. Delaney-Black, V. (2001). Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Childhood Behavior at Age 6 to 7 Years: I. Dose- Response Effect. Research Question. The main research question proposed in this study: 1) does alcohol affect children prenatally. The hypothesis that researchers draw is if there are adverse effects of children who were exposed to a low dosage of alcohol at the age of 6 to 7 years of age. ThisRead MoreMedicare Policy Analysis447966 Words   |  1792 PagesCommittees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, the Budget, Rules, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Diversity Is The Complete Range Of Differences And...

Diversity is the complete range of differences and similarities that make each individual unique. According to a study conducted by Korn Ferry International, it classifies diversity into six buckets as below. 1.Relational: How we relate and rejuvenate (Family status, Parental, Marital, Behavior, Personal Habits, Generation and Partner) 2.Cognitive: How we think and process information (Thinking, learning, interpersonal, communication, Introvert, Extravert, IQ and EQ) 3.Occupational: How we work and what we do ( Occupation, Department, Work experience, Industry, Tenure, Affiliation, Status and Role) 4.Societal: How we connect and relate to society (Economic, Political, Social, Language, Origin, Education, Geographical and Social class)†¦show more content†¦Diversity provokes thoughts and perspective Research shows that groups with physical diversity value innovation and new ideas.Hearing about another’s experience can shed light on a life different than ours and provide a new perspective.When we compare our struggles, priorities, and values, we are able to comprehend where an individual is coming from and understand his or her actions and behaviors.Perhaps talking to someone new will change your mindset and priorities, or at least make you appreciate another.Perspectives, leading to better- decision making and problem-solving. Diversity can improve the bottom line of companies and lead to unfettered discoveries and breakthrough innovations. Diversity Provokes anticipation, beliefs and growing acceptance. The article explains how homogeneous groups tend to agree with one another, but when working in a diverse group makes people believe that differences of perspective might exist among them and that belief makes people change their behaviour. Promoting diversity cultivates acceptance and tolerance. Through growing contact with, exposure to, and communication between new people with unique ideas, individuals may see that they may have more inShow MoreRelatedManaging Diversity in South Africa6015 Words   |  25 Pages1. Introduction In the workplace, diversity in terms of ethnicity, locality, education and skills, age, and gender exist. Managers or employers therefore require innovative ideas to successfully manage employees in the workplace. Diversity management is a relatively new field in the South African business environment. Managing employees and the work environment involves different aspects and is influenced by the internal environment such as in the mission, vision and goals of the organisation asRead MoreUnit 1 Equality and Diversity Ncfe Essay3762 Words   |  16 PagesEquality and Diversity Unit 1: Exploring Equality and Diversity Assessment You should use this file to complete your Assessment. †¢ The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk †¢ Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly †¢ When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference †¢ Then, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via your My Study area – make sure it isRead MoreNcfe Equality Diversity Level 2 Unit 1 Essay2346 Words   |  10 PagesEquality and Diversity Unit 1: Exploring Equality and Diversity Assessment You should use this file to complete your Assessment. †¢ The first thing you need to do is save a copy of this document, either onto your computer or a disk †¢ Then work through your Assessment, remembering to save your work regularly †¢ When you’ve finished, print out a copy to keep for reference †¢ Then, go to www.vision2learn.com and send your completed Assessment to your tutor via your My Study area – make sure it isRead MoreCase on Accenture2453 Words   |  10 PagesAlso, discuss why focusing on employee retention pays off for Accenture clients, and not just for Accenture itself. It is imperative to analyze the different work backgrounds that some of our team members have experienced in order to find some similarities with Accenture. One team member is currently working in a small air conditioning business with less than 50 employees. According to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA.gov), small businesses employ more than 50% of employees in the UnitedRead MoreA Review On Coaching And Mentoring1850 Words   |  8 Pagestechnology, and the organizational issues such as purpose and goal orientation in coaching and mentoring are developed throughout this section. Part Three focuses on the practice of supervision and standards while exploring some of the contemporary diversity issues facing coaching and mentoring. Part Four brings together all the above topics and moves toward a theory of coaching and mentoring. This section concludes with a review of the emerging concerns from coaching and mentoring. The authors pointRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education Is Based On Many Things2131 Words   |  9 Pagesis based on many things, including my worldview. When compared with some of the readings and thoughts of the authors we covered throughout this course, I believe that there are some similarities and dissimilarities. Every worldview, much like every philosophy of education is different and formed by each individual person. I believe that as a society we must seek to better our education through any means possible, as early as possible and as much as possible. As teachers, it is our duty toRead MoreOrganizational Culture Aspects Essay3411 Words   |  14 Pagesand improve its [sic] engagement and relationship with employees.† CEC uses monthly manager meetings and annual country meetings to accomplish effective communication within the corporation (Cexp.ca, 2008). Diversity is given a front seat at GE. GE recruits from the military and has individual support forums (2007) for the Women, African American, Asian Pacific, and Hispanic employees within GE. CEC does not reflect the diverse culture that GE represents. CEC show upper management to be predominatelyRead MoreChristianity, Islam, Buddhism, And Hinduism2587 Words   |  11 PagesMany religions are practiced throughout the world. The most common ones are l Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Each of these have their own vi ews, preachers and followers. Every religion is independently known because of its distinguishing holy being and god to be worshipped. Religions give their followers the particular strategies and rules in which to lead their lives. These rules and strategies give the distinctive identity to the followers of the particular religion. TheRead MoreEthics Codes For Social Work Essay2215 Words   |  9 Pagesof Social Workers and the National Association of Black Social Workers are two organizations responsible for developing codes of ethics for social workers. This paper will look at the ethics codes for each organization to compare and contrast each. The goal is to find similarities and differences that can be tailored to successful social work programs. What is Social Work There are many humanitarian careers available in the United States. Social work is among these philanthropic career choicesRead MorePYC2602 NOTES2972 Words   |  12 Pages†¢ Change stability in mental abilities eg learning, memory, language, thinking, moral reasoning, creativity. †¢ Psychosocial Development †¢ Change stability in personality, emotions social relationships. All these influence each other INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT HEREDITY, ENVIRONMENT MATURATION †¢ Heredity †¢ Inborn traits inherited from biological parents †¢ Environment †¢ World outside self, beginning in the womb †¢ The learning that comes from experience Includes socialization:

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Ordinary Men ( Christopher Browning ) free essay sample

Reviews book recounting massacre of Jews by German Reserve Police Battalion in Poland in 1943. Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland is a book that tells the story of the members of German Reserve Police Battalion 101. This battalion, consisting of approximately 500 men, massacred and deported more than 80,000 Jews in and around the Lublin district of Poland. Their participation in the massacres began in July 1942 and ended in November 1943. The book raises several issues surrounding the choice to kill defenseless people: how ordinary German men became mass murderers; how not all of the massacres were committed by members of the SS; and how men voluntary chose to continue their participation in the killing assignments despite opportunities to stop. All the men in Battalion 101 had the option to exempt themselves from the killings on numerous occasions. Ultimately, Browning writes, the Holocaust took place..

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Publishing Ins and Outs Proceed with Contract Caution - The Writers For Hire

PUBLISHING INS AND OUTS: PROCEED WITH CONTRACT CAUTION Long hours and late nights of pounding the keys have finally resulted in something monumentala book! You’ve finished your manuscript and even scored interest from a publisher or two. What’s not to like? You could get used to this author life. But wait! Before you start counting those dollar signs in your bank account without even a page in print, you want to think carefully about signing a publishing contract. When those papers are shoved in front of you, adrenaline runs high, and business acumen tends to flow out like a tipped over bottle of ink that will blot your manuscript if you’re not careful. In an internet age, publishers have to be shrewd to stay afloatand you should match their wit. Deducing Right Angles Know your rights. Specifically, publishing involves an all-out rights grab. Make sure that you’re well informed to give you traction in this game of tug of war. Rights are divided into these general categories: Media- hardcover or softcover book, ebooks Length of time- term for rights is typically for the life of the copyright (usually the life of the author plus 70 years) Territory- US and Canada, foreign Subsidiary- dramatic, audio, merchandise, reprint Expect to sell basic rights for print copies of your book, including hardcover, softcover, and ebooks. Restrict these to North America or the English-speaking world (sometimes this excludes Australia). Retain all other rights or negotiate for them. Subsidiary rights cover every form of the book that is not the physical book itself. These include dramatic rightslike movie and tv, audio, and even merchandising rights (you can dream, right?) Reserve as many of these rights as possible so that you can sell them to an experienced publisher for each right. Check out your publisher’s expertise with international markets before granting them international rights. If they are not experienced in selling rights to other countries, reserve those rights so that you can contract with a different publisher for foreign rights. If you want to give your publisher a chance with international rights, sell those rights for a shorter period of time than North American rights. Describing the Work Even the most obvious details of a publishing contract should be scrutinized closely.Tweet this Make sure the work described in the publishing agreement accurately describes your book. You don’t want to be under contract for material you have no intention of writing. Beware of Warranties In the warranty section, publishers want you to masquerade as a mind reader, asking you to promise that the book doesn’t invade privacy, violate anyone else’s copyright, or extend libel. If a random sentence in the book turns out to violate one of these promises, your contract is breached. While you would never want to intentionally violate someone’s copyright or break laws of privacy or libel (remember, truth is a defense to libel), sometimes those things are hard to define. Protect yourself in the warranty section by requesting language that narrows liabilitysuch as the phrase, â€Å"to the best of the author’s knowledge.† Exclude any changes made by the publisher from your warranty. Indemnity is often neatly tucked into a warranty clause. Take out your favorite virtual highlighter and go to town on this next point: authors should NEVER indemnify publishers. By doing so, you are putting your entire net worth on the line for a professional entity that likely has far greater legal resources and capital than you. A publisher can handle potential liability—don’t martyr your savings for them. Ask to be included on their media insurance policy, or at the very least to cap your liability if any suit should arise. You’ll also want to limit royalty withholding if there’s a threat of litigationpublishers like to hogtie your royalties if they even sniff conflict in the air. Specify that settlement requires the author’s reasonable consent. Delivery And Acceptance You know that saying â€Å"beauty is in the eye of the beholder?† Yeah, you don’t want your publishing contract to work like that. Specify that the acceptance clause for your book doesn’t give the publisher the right to reject your book without good reason. Whether they think it’s a beautiful masterpiece or a stinky piece of rubbish shouldn’t matter once they’ve signed on the dotted line. They’re obligated to pay up unless they can contrive a good reason not to. Don’t give them a way out of ponying up your advance. As you might guess, an editor’s job is to edit. But sometimes they don’t want to edit. Sometimes they think a manuscript presents too much work and they’d rather toss it. Make sure that’s not an option on your manuscript. Include a phrase in your contract that says the author has the right to revise based on the editor’s critique. That way if the editor really despises your work, you get a chance to make things right rather than being tossed out like a newspaper ad. Raking in Royalties Ah, payday. The dream publishing contract comes with a fat advance and hefty royalties to boot. It usually doesn’t play out like that, especially for a first-time author. First-time authors should expect an advance from $2,000-20,000 and 5-7% royalties on softcover books. Hardcover books usually bring royalties from 10-15%. Ebook royalties are around 25%, so even though ebooks retail for lower than print books, an author may stand to make significantly higher royalties. Note that you won’t receive royalty payments until you’ve paid back your advance through royalties. On the other hand, if your book doesn’t sell a single copy, your advance should be yours to keep—no refunds required. Make sure your contract specifies that you are not responsible for repaying your advance should your book fall short of projected sales. Will the publisher pay you on gross or net sales? This can make a sizeable difference. If your publisher subtracts costs like printing, distribution, and retail discounts, the fancy number crunching can slash your profits in half. Royalties should be calculated as a percentage of the Suggested Retail List Price (SRLP) of the book, not based on a discounted retail price. Remember that your agent will likely skim 10-15% off your royalties as payment for securing the book deal in the first place. After a book earns out (meets its advance), you’ll receive royalty checks regularly as long as the book is in print and selling. Option and Non-Compete Clauses As gratifying as it might be for the publisher to option rights to your next book, this is one gift that you’d rather not open. You don’t want to be tied to this publisher for your next book deal—whether it’s a love or hate relationship, you want to be free to shop around. If the publisher is offering you a multi-book advance, that’s another story. Money upfront is a good thing. Restrictive option clauses that limit your future book earnings are not. Non-compete clauses can be even worse for your future writing. They can derail your entire literary career. This clause restricts your ability to sell books on a similar topic that would compete with your prior published work. It’s broad enough to be construed in really damaging ways. If your publisher wants a non-compete clause, hire a literary attorney to fine tune your contract and protect your interests. Advice is intended for general interest only. It does not substitute for legal advice from a licensed attorney. Hire an experienced agent or a literary attorney to represent you in publishing negotiations.