-------------------------------------------------- DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW ONLY — NOT LEGAL OR FINANCIAL ADVICE This document is a structured preparation draft only. Copyright Act 1957 India IP ownership and moral rights provisions, income tax treatment of the Advance and royalty payments under the Income Tax Act 1961 including applicable TDS deduction requirements on royalties paid to an Indian author, GST implications for publishing services, applicable Association of Indian Publishers or Authors Guild India industry standards, and contract enforceability under the Indian Contract Act 1872 must be confirmed with a qualified Indian publishing attorney before this agreement is signed. -------------------------------------------------- BOOK PUBLISHING AGREEMENT — DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW Document Ref: BPA-2026-001 Date of Preparation: June 1 2026 AUTHOR: Priya Sharma Mumbai Maharashtra India Email: [author email] PUBLISHER: SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd Mumbai Maharashtra India Email: [publisher email] 1. RECITALS 1.1 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd is an independent literary publisher based in Mumbai Maharashtra India with experience publishing contemporary Indian literary fiction. 1.2 Priya Sharma is a debut literary novelist based in Mumbai India who has written the original literary novel titled The River Between Us. 1.3 Both parties confirm their mutual intent to publish The River Between Us on the terms set out in this agreement. 2. DEFINITIONS 2.1 Author: Priya Sharma. 2.2 Publisher: SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd. 2.3 Work: The original literary novel titled The River Between Us written by Priya Sharma. 2.4 Manuscript: The complete and final text of the Work in the agreed format delivered by Priya Sharma to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd. 2.5 Advance: INR 2,00,000 being the advance against future royalty earnings as described in Section 6. 2.6 Royalty: The percentage of Net Receipts payable to Priya Sharma on each copy of the Work sold as described in Section 7. 2.7 Net Receipts: The actual amounts received by SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd from the sale and licensing of the Work after deduction of trade discounts, returns, and applicable taxes. 2.8 Territory: India and all South Asian countries. 2.9 Rights: The exclusive publication rights granted to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd as described in Section 4. 2.10 Subsidiary Rights: Translation rights and film and television adaptation rights as described in Section 8. 2.11 Publication Date: The date on which the Work is first made available for sale to the public in the Territory. 2.12 Out-of-Print: The condition described in Section 16. 2.13 Reversion Date: The date on which rights revert to Priya Sharma as described in Section 16. 2.14 Option Period: 60 days from submission of Priya Sharma's next work as described in Section 17. 2.15 Governing Law: Laws of Maharashtra India. 3. GRANT OF RIGHTS 3.1 Priya Sharma grants SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd the exclusive right to publish, distribute, and sell The River Between Us in the following formats in India and South Asia for the full period of copyright: 1. Hardcover print edition. 2. Paperback print edition. 3. Ebook edition in all digital formats. 3.2 All rights not expressly granted in this agreement including but not limited to translation rights, film and television adaptation rights, audio rights, and international rights outside India and South Asia are reserved by Priya Sharma subject to the subsidiary rights sharing arrangement in Section 8. 3.3 Note: The scope of the rights grant under the Copyright Act 1957 India and its interaction with Priya Sharma's retained rights must be confirmed with a qualified Indian publishing attorney before signing. 4. MANUSCRIPT DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE 4.1 Priya Sharma will deliver the complete final Manuscript of The River Between Us to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd by September 1 2026 in Microsoft Word format or agreed equivalent, comprising approximately 90,000 words. 4.2 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd will review the Manuscript within 60 days of receipt and provide written acceptance or written editorial feedback requesting revisions. 4.3 If revisions are requested Priya Sharma will have 60 days to complete and resubmit the revised Manuscript. 4.4 If SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd does not accept the revised Manuscript after one revision round, either party may terminate this agreement by written notice and Priya Sharma will retain any portion of the Advance already paid. 4.5 Note: Manuscript acceptance provisions and the financial consequences of rejection under Indian contract law must be confirmed with a qualified attorney. 5. ADVANCE AGAINST ROYALTIES 5.1 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd will pay Priya Sharma an Advance of INR 2,00,000 payable in two installments: Installment 1: INR 1,00,000 on signing of this agreement. Installment 2: INR 1,00,000 on written acceptance of the final Manuscript. 5.2 The Advance is an advance against future royalty earnings. SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd will recoup the full Advance from royalties earned before any net royalty payments are made to Priya Sharma. 5.3 The Advance is not repayable by Priya Sharma if SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd accepts the Manuscript and The River Between Us fails to earn sufficient royalties to recoup the Advance. 5.4 Note: Income tax treatment of the Advance under the Income Tax Act 1961 including whether TDS must be deducted on Advance payments to the Author must be confirmed with a qualified Indian tax advisor. 6. ROYALTY RATES 6.1 Priya Sharma will earn the following royalties on Net Receipts from sales of The River Between Us in the Territory: Hardcover: 10 percent of Net Receipts on each hardcover copy sold. Paperback: 8 percent of Net Receipts on each paperback copy sold. Ebook: 20 percent of Net Receipts on each ebook copy sold or licensed. 6.2 Royalties will be calculated on Net Receipts being the actual amounts received by SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd after trade discounts and returns. 6.3 Note: The royalty calculation base of Net Receipts versus recommended retail price significantly affects the Author's earnings. Priya Sharma should confirm the royalty base and applicable definition of Net Receipts with a qualified literary agent or attorney before signing. 7. SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS 7.1 Where SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd licenses any Subsidiary Rights in The River Between Us the net receipts from such licensing will be shared as follows: Translation rights: 75 percent to Priya Sharma and 25 percent to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd. Film and television adaptation rights: 75 percent to Priya Sharma and 25 percent to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd. 7.2 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd must obtain Priya Sharma's prior written consent before entering into any Subsidiary Rights licensing arrangement. 7.3 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd will account to Priya Sharma for all Subsidiary Rights income within 30 days of receipt. 7.4 Note: Subsidiary rights licensing involves separate IP licensing arrangements under the Copyright Act 1957. The scope of SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd's authority to license Subsidiary Rights must be confirmed with a qualified Indian publishing attorney. 8. ROYALTY STATEMENTS AND PAYMENT 8.1 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd will provide Priya Sharma with royalty statements covering January to June and July to December of each calendar year, delivered within 60 days of each period end. 8.2 Royalty payments will accompany each statement once the Advance has been fully recouped. 8.3 Priya Sharma has the right to commission an independent audit of SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd's royalty accounts once per calendar year with 30 days written notice. 8.4 Note: TDS deduction obligations on royalty payments to authors under the Income Tax Act 1961 and GST treatment of publishing royalties must be confirmed with a qualified Indian tax advisor. 9. PUBLISHER OBLIGATIONS 9.1 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd agrees to: 1. Publish The River Between Us in print and ebook formats within 18 months of written acceptance of the final Manuscript. 2. Invest in professional editing, cover design, and production to publishable industry standard. 3. Distribute the Work through established Indian book trade channels and online retail platforms. 4. Maintain the Work in print or active digital availability throughout the term of this agreement. 5. Provide Priya Sharma with 10 complimentary author copies on publication. 6. Deliver royalty statements in accordance with Section 8. 9.2 Note: If SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd fails to publish within 18 months of acceptance, Priya Sharma's right to terminate and reclaim all rights must be confirmed with a qualified attorney. 10. AUTHOR OBLIGATIONS 10.1 Priya Sharma agrees to: 1. Deliver the complete Manuscript by September 1 2026. 2. Cooperate with reasonable editorial revisions within the agreed revision timeline. 3. Provide a professional author biography and author photograph for use in all editions and publicity materials. 4. Comply with the competing works restriction in Section 13. 5. Support the publication through reasonable promotional activities including social media and author readings where possible. 11. AUTHOR WARRANTIES 11.1 Priya Sharma represents and warrants that: 1. The River Between Us is original and is Priya Sharma's own work. 2. The Work has not been previously published in any form in India or South Asia. 3. The Work does not infringe the copyright of any third party. 4. The Work does not contain any defamatory, obscene, or unlawful content. 5. The Work does not violate any person's right to privacy. 6. Priya Sharma has the full right and authority to grant the rights in this agreement and is not bound by any prior obligation that conflicts with this agreement. 11.2 Note: Author warranties are among the most legally and financially significant provisions of any publishing agreement. A breach of warranty may entitle the Publisher to terminate and claim damages. Priya Sharma must confirm the warranty scope with a qualified attorney before signing. 12. COMPETING WORKS 12.1 During the term of this agreement Priya Sharma agrees not to publish or authorize publication of any directly competing literary novel set in the same narrative world or featuring the same principal characters with any other publisher without SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd's prior written consent. 12.2 Note: The scope of competing works restrictions under Indian contract law must be reasonable and must be confirmed with a qualified attorney before signing. 13. AUTHOR COPIES AND PURCHASE RIGHTS 13.1 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd will provide Priya Sharma with 10 complimentary hardcover copies of The River Between Us on publication. 13.2 Priya Sharma may purchase additional copies of any edition at a 40 percent discount off the recommended retail price for personal use and author events. 14. COPYRIGHT AND MORAL RIGHTS 14.1 Copyright in The River Between Us vests in Priya Sharma as the author of the Work and is licensed to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd exclusively on the terms of this agreement. 14.2 Priya Sharma's name will appear as sole author on the cover, title page, and all authorized editions and promotional materials. 14.3 Note: Moral rights under Section 57 of the Copyright Act 1957 India including the right of integrity and the right of paternity must be confirmed with a qualified Indian publishing attorney. 15. OUT-OF-PRINT AND REVERSION OF RIGHTS 15.1 The Work will be considered Out-of- Print if in any 12-month period: 1. Fewer than 250 copies across all print formats are sold, and 2. No ebook edition is actively available for purchase through at least one major Indian online retailer. 15.2 If the Work is Out-of-Print Priya Sharma may give SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd written notice requesting reversion of all rights. 15.3 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd has 6 months from receipt of the reversion notice to bring the Work back into print or restore active digital availability. If the Publisher fails to do so all rights granted under this agreement revert to Priya Sharma absolutely. 15.4 Note: Out-of-print and reversion provisions are among the most important long-term protections for authors under Indian copyright law and must be confirmed with a qualified attorney. 16. OPTION CLAUSE 16.1 Priya Sharma grants SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd the right of first offer on her next literary novel in the same genre as The River Between Us. 16.2 Priya Sharma must submit a proposal or completed manuscript of her next work to SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd before offering it to any other publisher. 16.3 SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd has 60 days from receipt to make a written offer on the next work. If no offer is made within 60 days or if the parties cannot agree terms within 30 days of an offer, Priya Sharma is free to offer the next work to any other publisher. 16.4 Note: Option clauses restrict the Author's freedom to publish with other publishers and must be carefully reviewed by a literary agent or attorney before signing. 17. TERMINATION 17.1 Either party may terminate this agreement for material breach by giving 30 days written notice identifying the breach. The breaching party has 30 days to cure the breach before termination takes effect. 17.2 Priya Sharma may terminate this agreement if SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd fails to publish the Work within 18 months of written acceptance of the Manuscript. 17.3 Priya Sharma may terminate this agreement if the Work goes Out-of- Print and rights are not restored within the cure period in Section 15. 17.4 Either party may terminate if the other becomes insolvent or enters into voluntary administration. 17.5 On termination all rights granted under this agreement revert to Priya Sharma absolutely. Any earned but unpaid royalties remain due. 18. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES 18.1 Laws of Maharashtra India and the Copyright Act 1957 govern this agreement. 18.2 Disputes proceed through direct negotiation then binding arbitration in Mumbai. SIGNATURE BLOCK: Note: Both parties must have this agreement reviewed by a qualified Indian publishing attorney and tax advisor before signing. Copyright Act 1957 IP rights compliance, TDS and GST treatment of Advance and royalty payments, Author warranty scope and indemnity, option clause implications, and reversion rights must all be confirmed before this agreement is signed. SkyBooks India Pvt Ltd (Publisher) Signature: ________________ Name: ____________________ Title: ___________________ Date: ____________________ Priya Sharma (Author) Signature: ________________ Date: ____________________ Witness: _________________ -------------------------------------------------- This Book Publishing Agreement draft was generated by an AI drafting tool as a structured preparation and documentation aid only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Always have this document reviewed by a qualified attorney or literary agent before either party signs. --------------------------------------------------