The Satisfaction Clause in Publishing Agreements: Presentation Slides

The Satisfaction Clause in Publishing Agreements: A Case Study of Its Purpose, Controversy, and Future Maliea Ruby with Ooligan Press

This presentation examines the satisfaction clause included in publishing contracts, the reason for controversy surrounding it, and what the future may look like for it. This is accomplished by looking at the history of the clause, how it functions in publishing contracts, and three major cases centered around it. The satisfaction clause allows a client seeking a job done to determine whether the work is satisfactory to them; some proposed changes could help to even the balance of power between authors and publishers.

Maliea Ruby is a recent graduate of Portland State University with an MS in Book Publishing where she worked at Ooligan Press. She spent her second year as project manager for YA fantasy novel The Keepers of Aris. Over the course of two years, she gained experience and knowledge about every aspect of the publishing industry and found a love in editing and marketing. Originally from Idaho, she grew up reading well past her bedtime and escaping into fairytale worlds. Some of her favorite genres include mythology-inspired fantasy like The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty and anything queer.