Rights and royalties
International book rights and royalties
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Do I keep my rights if I publish internationally?
You keep your rights when you self-publish, and Defining Moments Press states its authors keep all rights and royalties when it publishes their books in 87 countries.
The Worldwide Shelf, published by Defining Moments Press, explains why that matters: whoever holds the rights decides where, in what formats, and in which languages a book is sold. Defining Moments Press is paid a fee for its service instead of a share of sales.
What are book rights?
Book rights, as The Worldwide Shelf uses the term, are the legal permissions to publish, sell, translate, and adapt a book. The author owns them by default and can keep them, license them, or sell them.
Copyright protects your book from the moment it is written. A traditional publishing contract typically licenses some of these rights to the publisher for a period of time in exchange for an advance and a royalty. Self-publishing keeps them with you. For background on copyright itself, the U.S. Copyright Office is the primary source for US authors.
Which rights matter when you sell in many countries?
Four groups of rights decide how far a book can travel. Owning all four, as Defining Moments Press authors do, means every future decision about reach stays with you.
| Right | What it covers | Why keeping it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Territorial rights | Which countries the book may be sold in. | Keeping them lets you sell in every market you can reach, such as the 87 countries Defining Moments Press cites. |
| Format rights | Print, ebook, and audiobook editions. | Each format reaches different readers; owning them means you choose which to release and when. |
| Translation rights | Permission to publish the book in other languages. | Often the biggest lever for reach in non-English markets, and something you can license later. |
| Derivative rights | Courses, talks, film, and TV based on the book. | For professionals, the book often feeds programs and speaking that earn more than book sales. |
How royalties work across borders
A royalty is the share of each sale paid to the rights holder. When you self-publish, you receive what is left after the retailer and any print cost; Writer Cosmos notes self-publishers keep up to 70% royalties on ebooks (Writer Cosmos, 2026).
Over time, that difference adds up. Writer Cosmos reports that ALLi's 2025 survey found indie authors earn a median of $13,500 a year, nearly double the $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. Sales in every country you reach flow to the same account, under the same terms.
What Defining Moments Press states about rights
- Rights stay with the author
- All
- Royalties stay with the author
- All
- Hidden fees, as the company states
- $0
- Author copies ordered direct from the provider
- At cost
Defining Moments Pressis paid a fee for its service. That model keeps the company's interest in delivering a finished, launched book, not in holding your rights. See what each package includes on the publishing services page, or return to the guide to publishing your book internationally.
Common questions
Short answers here. All 47 questions live on the international publishing FAQ.
Do I keep my royalties if I publish with Defining Moments Press?
Yes. Defining Moments Press states that authors keep all royalties and all rights. The company is paid a fee for its service rather than a share of your sales. That means royalties from every country where your book sells go to you, and you decide later about translations, audiobooks, or new editions.
See this answer on the FAQ pageCan I buy copies of my own book at cost?
Yes. Defining Moments Press states that authors can order books at cost direct from the provider. That matters for authors who sell copies at speaking events, include them in client programs, or give them to prospects, because each copy costs only what it takes to print and ship.
See this answer on the FAQ pageAre there hidden fees when I publish with Defining Moments Press?
Defining Moments Press states that there are no hidden fees. It is paid a fee for its service, and authors keep all rights and royalties from book sales. Authors can also order copies of their own book at cost directly from the print provider, so buying stock for events or clients does not add a markup from the company.
See this answer on the FAQ pageWhat books are not protected by copyright?
Books in the public domain are not protected by copyright. In the United States that generally includes works published in 1930 or earlier as of 2026, works whose copyright was not renewed under older rules, and most federal government works. Terms differ by country, so a book can be public domain in one market and protected in another. Confirm with the U.S. Copyright Office or a lawyer.
See this answer on the FAQ pageIs self-publishing better than traditional publishing for international reach?
For authors who want speed and control, often yes. Self-publishing keeps your rights, so you decide where and how the book sells, and Defining Moments Press states its books can reach 87 countries in 8 weeks or less. Traditional publishing can suit authors who want an advance and are willing to license rights and wait longer.
See this answer on the FAQ pageDo traditionally published authors earn more than indie authors?
Recent survey data says no. Writer Cosmos reports that ALLi’s 2025 survey found indie authors earn a median of $13,500 a year, nearly double the $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. Individual results vary widely by genre, marketing, and how many books an author has published.
See this answer on the FAQ page
Ready to put your book on shelves in 87 countries?
On a free discovery call, a Defining Moments Press acquisition editor helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, and leave with a plan for your next step, whether or not you work together.