• Questions

  • Regarding Writing Prompts and the final rule

So, I've been meaning to try entering the weekly writing contests that webnovel/qidian supports, but I have some concerns over the last rule that is recurring in every single competition. The final rule states and I quote "Webnovel reserves the right of final interpretation for all stories submitted in this contest."

Now, does this mean they get the copywrite to my/the contestant's stories? Or is there some other smaller detail I just don't get? From what little I know of copywrite legality, very little to almost none, I think that the creator of a piece of media would have to sign away their copywrite for it to transfer to webnovel, so are the contestants of the weekly competitions signing away their copywrite???

    I asked the same question and was ignored. Luckily my entries into the prompt didn't rank. I think you can only read it as it stated. My view leans to copy editing for translation.

      BrightDawn It's as @Dr_Zombie has said: They reserve themselves the right to not include your story in the contest.
      For example, let's say the contest is "Schoolboy meets Ghost" and you decide to make it a ghost-harem R-18 story where the MC is a highschool student.
      In such a case, Webnovel could decide that your novel doesn't count for the contest without giving a reason. Maybe a mod doesn't like harem. Maybe they don't like the fact that the MC is underage. Maybe it's something entirely different.
      Whatever it is, they decide no to include your story by referring to the "Webnovel reserves the right of final interpretation for all stories submitted in this contest." Rule.

      The copyright for the story will always belong to you. In fact, if that story were to go premium, you have the opportonity to lease the copyright to them so that they're allowed to monetize your story. I've never heard of any case where Webnovel takes the copyright away from the original author. They're fair in that regard.

          BrightDawn
          Note: Not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.

          The copyright belongs to you unless you sign a contract with Webnovel.

          Not sure what @Yozuka means, as he is incorrect in his last paragraph. The only way a story goes premium is if you sign a contract with webnovel, and that would typically give Webnovel your copyright. Perhaps an extremely popular author could negotiate the contract differently, but I've never heard of it being done another way.

              SnoozySloth According to this link on webnovel "https://acts.webnovel.com/2018/62185143/index.html", which is an official statement on their website, there's two types of contracts:

              1. Royalty Contracts, where you keep the copyright and anything else and share the revenue with webnovel. In exchange, they help you make money with it. In other terms, you're the copyright holder and creator, while Webnovel becomes your publisher.

              2. Fixed-Rate Contracts, where you can sell the copyright to webnovel for a fixed price, which will be paid, and this is only my assumption, in monthly wages as long as you continously undate your novel. However, and I quote, "Successful and experienced authors are given priority!".

              For me, that sounds like the first option, the Royalties Contract, is the 'normal' one that everyone will be given, while the Fixed-Rate Contract seems like an option for follow-up projects of contracted authors.
              I am not a contracted author in any way, so I can also just speculate, though.

              As for the writing constest; As long as you're not signing a contract, the copyright will belong to you no matter what. Anything else would be blatent theft of intelectual property.

                  Yozuka
                  That's not what it says though?
                  It says:
                  Authors sign a royalty contract with Webnovel. Authors will share the revenue earned from subscriptions on the website, direct sales from other platforms, and other monetization of the copyright. With the advantage of a continual stream of revenue, the standard royalty sharing is also the best choice to ensure an author’s long-term earnings.

                  It's pretty much a 50/50 split of revenue for a royalty contract for most contracted authors. That includes premium chapters in addition to if Webnovel sells the rights to another media adaptation such as a movie, anime, drama, comic, etc.

                      Just check those contracts. Retaining your copyright is of little help if you sign off an exclusive licence including any and all sublicences with no wording about how such a license reverts back to you.

                        Guys, don't worry. You are not giving anything away just by participating in the contest.

                        And its not so easy to get a contract, you will have to be successful enough first.

                        At least 100k worth of content and a lot of views and collections just to get noticed by them. Most of the contracted authors of this site had to ask to a Webnovel Editor or Staff to check for eligibility before receiving a contract offer.

                        Also, once they contac an author they provide several different contracts available for the author to choose.

                        Plus, a more successful author would probably receive better offers than a less successful author. So if you want more money you will ultimately have to rely in your own work and capabilities.

                        So participate in the contest without worring about this at all.

                          You know, now that you mentioned KDP, you made me curious enough to check their stated conditions to put books online to sell and I have surprisingly found out that most of the things some people consider the two greatest drawbacks from webnovel contracts are almost exactly the same.

                          like this two paragraphs in KDP license:

                          You will retain all intellectual property rights you may have in submitted materials. Subject to those rights, Amazon.com will be the exclusive owner of any permitted modifications that it may create.

                          You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Amazon.com and its affiliated companies from all claims, judgments, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that may arise out of any alleged breach of this warranty.

                          As you see in paragraph one even if you are retaining the original rights, you are actually giving Amazon permission to create derivative works from your novels and in paragraph two you are hold liable to all possible claims that may damage their reputation.

                          source : [link]https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_v4_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201995010

                          So the only benefit I can see from using KDP is to have a bigger share of the revenue. But then again at least Webnovel do a very good work of promoting the novels of a contracted authors, so probably they gain more money, at least at the beggining.

                            GabrielDetchans like this two paragraphs in KDP license:

                            You will retain all intellectual property rights you may have in submitted materials. Subject to those rights, Amazon.com will be the exclusive owner of any permitted modifications that it may create.

                            You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Amazon.com and its affiliated companies from all claims, judgments, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that may arise out of any alleged breach of this warranty.

                            As you see in paragraph one even if you are retaining the original rights, you are actually giving Amazon permission to create derivative works from your novels and in paragraph two you are hold liable to all possible claims that may damage their reputation.

                            You didn't read the whole thing, did you?

                            First paragraph (plus several before it): Amazon is only allowed to used modified materials when promoting your work. When you want to, you can stop giving them the license. They still own the materials, but cannot use those.

                            Second paragraph (plus several before it) : You completely misunderstood it. Here's the actual meaning in plain English:

                            You must make sure you actually wrote the stuff you submitted. If someone sues your work for copyright infringement, Amazon is innocent.

                                GabrielDetchansSo I've never seen a webnovel contract so I'm a bit skew-if on what is the major complaint. My naive impression was WN would take your rights and be able to fiddle around under the hood to make it work for them. That seems not the case at all.

                                If it's similar to KDP that's fine, since that clause typically relates to the data you put in the description and meta fields for promotion. It's even better if the author has the same control over content like KDP.

                                So in essence, the only benefit I see signing a Webnoval contract is the promotional aspect, which is a huge one since this is the most costly area for a self published author. Hence why a lot of us remain undiscovered kings and queens.

                                As you say, there's no use talking or worrying about something that's only a pipe-dream at this stage. :smile:

                                    Veronica8
                                    m.webnovel.com/book/11748906106504905

                                    Here you go. Just ignore the poster's own interpretations sprinkled throughout.
                                    It's... very different from KDP.

                                      ImBloo Why did you think i did not read the whole thing . I even post the link so people can check it.

                                      I agree with the interpretation of the second paragraph, I did not say anything in the contrary at all. I think you misunderstood me there.

                                      However, I don't agree with your intepretation of paragraph one. You are just assuming that the second paragraph is talking about your submitted material when in fact is talking about derivative rights from your submitted material which is not the same. That's why there is two different paragraphs talking about it. What you are talking is said here:

                                      By submitting materials to us, you grant to Amazon.com and its affiliated companies a worldwide, royalty-free license (which we may exercise only in connection with our promotion and distribution of your products) to do the following:

                                      Make reasonable modifications to the submitted materials. For example, Amazon.com may excerpt textual materials and may change the size or otherwise enhance (tilting, shading, etc.) graphical materials.
                                      Use, copy, and distribute materials and modifications for our internal business purposes.
                                      Use, copy, distribute, and display materials and modifications on the Internet and on other means of electronic or digital commerce.
                                      Use all trademarks and trade names associated with the materials.

                                      BUT WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS THIS OTHER PARAGRAPH
                                      This license will continue in perpetuity, unless either party terminates it by giving the other party thirty days' prior written notice. You will retain all intellectual property rights you may have in submitted materials. Subject to those rights, Amazon.com will be the exclusive owner of any permitted modifications that it may create.

                                      As you can see, it does not mention promotion or advertising here in this apragraph. And it specifically says that they are the exclusive owner (not you) of permitted modifications.

                                      So, as long they do a derivative work of your submmited materials before the 30 days notice end, they will retain all rights about that derivative work (not your original submmited material). That's what I was talking about.

                                          GabrielDetchans Amazon.com will be the exclusive owner of any permitted modifications that it may create.

                                          Don't you wonder "What permitted modifications?" It was mentioned in the previous paragraph, that's why I asked if you read the whole thing.

                                          GabrielDetchans Make reasonable modifications to the submitted materials.

                                          That's the modifications. And they are created with authors permission. Not derivative works or whatever it is you're thinking. At least that's my interpretation from the context. I don't know where in the web page you found that phrase "derivative works" and conclude that it's exactly the same as WN.

                                                GabrielDetchans I hope you're aware that "For example, Amazon.com may excerpt textual materials " constitutes a copyright bomb.

                                                They rip a piece of your novel for promotional purposes, and after that the piece is their IP... No bloody way in hell I'd sign that.

                                                    @ImBloo I guess we have different interpretations of it, my friend. Thanks for stating your opinion. Have a nice day!

                                                      GabrielDetchans I'm quoting what you posted. What could possibly be a matter of interpretation given these two lines of text that you, not I, posted here:

                                                      1) Make reasonable modifications to the submitted materials. For example, Amazon.com may excerpt textual materials

                                                      2) Amazon.com will be the exclusive owner of any permitted modifications that it may create.

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