A publication, like any other…

A publication, like any other business, needs to protect its intellectual property. Copyright protects the author’s original expression of ideas. When an author signs a contract with a publisher, they are typically granted copyright protection on their work. This means the publisher can reproduce and distribute the work without permission from the author. In return for this protection, the author typically receives a royalty payment. Depending on the type of work and the terms of the contract, royalties may be paid in cash or in kind (like advertising space).