More and more publishers seem to be discovering that they “accidentally” printed more copies of books than they licensed rights to print. The latest comes from Scholastic.
In 2007, Scholastic requested rights to print 25,000 copies of Encyclopedia Horrifica. As it turns out, the company actually printed 500,000 copies of the book. There was no reprinting or new edition; Scholastic just printed a first edition of 500,000 copies. In its letter to contributors, the company said it was an “internal mistake about what the 2007 print run was at the time.”
Based on the print run quantity increase alone, Selling Stock would recommend charging at least three times the original invoice pricing. It would also be more than fair for photographers to invoice for 5 to 10 times this adjusted base price for the infringement—a use grossly in excess of that negotiated and specified on an invoice. Perhaps next time, Scholastic will be able to keep track of the number of copies it really intends to print.
If readers are aware of other titles, from any publisher, where the actual print run exceeded the number licensed, please send information on the title and print quantity to Selling Stock.