Rights licensing is the part of publishing that many new authors think about last, if at all. When you’re focused on finishing a book, editing it, designing it, and getting it published, rights can feel abstract or distant.
But rights licensing matters because your book is more than a single product. It’s intellectual property, and that intellectual property can generate value in many formats, territories, and industries over time.
If you’re new to self-publishing, the most important thing to know is this:
you don’t need to license any rights to publish successfully.
But you do need to understand what you own, so you don’t give away options you may want later.
The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) exists to educate, empower, and advocate for self-publishing authors worldwide.
We provide trusted guidance, practical resources, and independent ratings to help our members make informed decisions at every stage of publishing.
To learn more about ALLi and the support available through membership, visit our website.
What “Rights Licensing” Actually Covers
Rights licensing is the process of allowing someone else to use part of your intellectual property under specific terms, while you retain ownership.
When you self-publish, you automatically hold all rights to your work unless you choose to license them.
Those rights fall into three core areas:
Formats
These include:
- Ebook
- Paperback and hardback
- Audiobook
- Any future formats that may emerge
Territories
These define where your book can be published or sold, such as:
- The US
- The UK
- Specific regions
- Worldwide
Term
This is how long a licence lasts.
Licences may be:
- Short and time-limited
- Long-term
- Or, in some cases, effectively permanent if poorly negotiated
Licensing is not the same as selling your book.
You are granting permission under defined conditions, not handing over ownership.
Why Rights Licensing Matters for Indie Authors
Rights are assets. In many cases, they are an author’s most valuable long-term assets.
Managing your rights carefully allows you to:
- Keep control over your work
- Avoid restrictive or one-sided contracts
- Expand into new formats or markets when you’re ready
- Create additional income streams from existing books
One of the biggest advantages of self-publishing is flexibility.
You don’t need to give away global rights or long-term control just to get published.
Many indie authors:
- Publish first
- Build sales and readership
- Explore licensing later from a stronger position
Selective Rights Licensing
The Core Indie Principle
Selective rights licensing means licensing only the rights a partner can realistically use and keeping everything else.
Instead of agreeing to “all rights, all formats, worldwide, for the life of copyright”, you make decisions one right at a time.
A selective approach asks:
- Which format is being licensed?
- Which territory does this cover?
- How long does the licence last?
For example, you might license:
- Print rights only
- In one territory
- For a limited number of years
This approach protects your ability to:
- Publish other formats yourself
- License the same book elsewhere
- Revisit or renegotiate rights later
As a general rule, indie authors should be cautious about:
- Worldwide rights
- All-format licences
- Very long or indefinite terms
If a rights buyer cannot actively use a right, it is usually better for you to keep it.
Copyright and Ownership
What You Automatically Have
Copyright protects your work automatically as soon as you create it. You don’t need to register copyright to own it, although registration can add protection in some countries.
What matters most is understanding the distinction:
- You own the work
- A licence grants permission
Licences can be:
- Exclusive or non-exclusive
- Limited to specific formats
- Limited to specific territories
- Limited to a fixed time period
Many poor rights deals happen because authors assume certain clauses are “standard” or feel pressured to agree quickly.
Taking time to understand what is being licensed is one of the simplest ways to protect your publishing future.
Exclusivity
When to Be Careful
Some publishing platforms and rights deals involve exclusivity, agreeing not to distribute or license certain rights elsewhere for a period of time.
Exclusivity can sometimes be useful as a short-term strategy.
It can also be risky.
Exclusivity:
- Limits flexibility
- Reduces reach
- Increases dependence on a single platform or partner
For most indie authors, non-exclusive arrangements offer greater long-term stability.
Even when exclusivity is chosen, it works best when it is:
- Time-limited
- Format-specific
- A conscious strategic decision
Exclusivity should never be the default.
When Rights Licensing Becomes Relevant
Most authors don’t license rights early in their publishing journey.
Rights opportunities usually appear after you’ve built:
- Consistent sales
- A growing readership
- Strength in a particular format or market
- Visibility, awards, or credibility
Until then, awareness is enough.
Knowing what you own, and what not to sign away, ensures you’re ready if an opportunity appears.
JOIN ALLI: SUPPORT AT EVERY STAGE
The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) exists to educate, empower, and advocate for self-publishing authors worldwide.
We provide trusted guidance, practical resources, and independent ratings to help our members make informed decisions at every stage of publishing.
To learn more about ALLi and the support available through membership, visit our website.
Practical Habits That Protect Your Rights
Even if you never license rights, good habits matter.
Always clarify:
- What rights are being licensed
- Which formats are included
- Which territories are covered
- How long the licence lasts
- When and how rights revert to you
- How income is calculated and paid
Keep clear records of:
- The rights you own
- Any rights you’ve licensed
- Contract terms and expiry dates
Treat your rights like a portfolio.
You don’t need to use every option, you just need to keep them available.
The Bigger Picture
Rights licensing isn’t about doing more work.
It’s about keeping doors open.
By understanding your rights, avoiding unnecessary exclusivity, and licensing selectively when the time is right, you protect both:
- Your creative control
- Your long-term earning potential
For indie authors, rights licensing isn’t a separate business.
It’s part of publishing with intention, building a career that can grow, adapt, and evolve over time.
In Conclusion
- Rights licensing is about managing opportunity, not chasing deals
- Self-published authors automatically own all rights unless they license them
- Selective licensing protects flexibility across formats, territories, and time
- Exclusivity should be limited and intentional, not automatic
- Understanding rights early prevents costly mistakes later