Sounds like a great title for an action novel. That may be the case, but this is a sobre blog piece about how indie authors can protect themselves against malicious legal claims on their copyright. And honestly, it's pretty straightforward.

Why Authors Should Consider Creating an LLC and What a Copyright Assignment Agreement Involves
In the ever-evolving world of publishing, authors are no longer just storytellers, they’re entrepreneurs, brand managers, and rights holders. With this shift comes the need for a more structured business approach. One of the smartest moves an author can make is forming a limited liability company (LLC) and assigning their copyrights to it.

Why Would an Author Create an LLC?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a formal business structure that provides personal liability protection while offering flexibility in how the business is run and taxed. For authors, this offers several strategic benefits:

1. Legal Protection
By separating your business from your personal identity, you reduce your risk. If your publishing activities are sued, your personal assets (like your house or savings) are protected and only the LLC’s assets are at stake.

2. Tax Efficiency
Depending on your jurisdiction, LLCs can offer tax advantages. Income from your books can be routed through the company, giving you access to business deductions, including software, marketing, travel, and even home office expenses.

3. Professional Credibility
Using a business name like mine, Brittle Media Ltd., (rather than your personal name) sends a strong signal to clients, agents, and collaborators that you're serious about your career.

4. Easier Rights Management
As your career grows, you might want to license your work, sell foreign rights, or adapt your stories into other media. Having your intellectual property owned by your company streamlines these negotiations and often looks more attractive to potential partners.

What Is a Copyright Assignment Agreement?
Creating an LLC is only step one. If you’ve already published or written books as an individual, you still personally own the copyrights, not the company. To shift ownership, you need a Copyright Assignment Agreement. This is a formal legal document that transfers your rights as the creator of a work to your LLC.

What the Agreement Includes:

1. Parties Involved: You (the author) and your LLC (e.g., Brittle Media Ltd.)
2. Details of the Work: Titles of novels, dates of creation, possibly registration numbers
3. Transfer Clause: Specifies that you’re assigning all rights, including the right to publish, reproduce, license, and create adaptations
4. Territory: Typically, this is worldwide
5. Duration: Usually the full term of copyright (your lifetime + 70 years in most countries)
6. Consideration: This is the value exchanged, often nominal (e.g., £1 or $10), but can be more if you like
7. Signatures: From you as assignor, and from a representative of your LLC as assignee

You can also choose to assign all your current and future works to your LLC in one broad agreement, or do it work-by-work.

When Should You Do This?
The best time to set up an LLC and assign copyrights is:

• Before publication (if possible)
• Or, once you know you’ll be earning serious income from your writing
• Or, if you plan to license your work for film, audio, or foreign rights and want everything under one legal umbrella

Final Thoughts
Running your author career as a business doesn’t mean you’re selling out, it means you’re protecting your work, growing your income, and planning for long-term success. Creating an LLC and assigning your copyrights to it is a strong step toward becoming not just a writer, but a publishing powerhouse.

Copyright © Brittle Media Ltd. August 2025

Help Me to Publish My Books & Fight Cancer.

At 71, I’ve already published 11 novels despite cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Now I have 21 more worlds waiting to be written.

Through Brittle Media Ltd, we’ll publish these stories and support others by donating 10% of profits to cancer charities.

Join us and be part of the story: https://gofund.me/ef873264