Bridging cultures and making stories flow around the world, literary translation is not just the work of translators. But one important question is, do authors get their due rights and profits when their works are translated?
Translation rights are protected under international agreements like the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which allows authors the right to translate their work and require royalties. However, there are obstacles for the majority of writers when it comes to receiving an equitable share of revenues from translated editions. Financial Terms Publisher Contracts Often Pass Down Content and Financial Terms, Which May Not Favor the Original Author
In literary translation, one of the biggest issues is the growing number of unauthorized translations that have surfaced, especially in the digital age, often resulting in significant losses for both the author and the translator. And some contracts give international publishers sweeping rights, diminishing the percentage that authors receive from foreign sales.
Even translators are caught up with issues of intellectual property rights. Their labor is often reduced to service work rather than a creative contribution that warrants separate recognition and compensation. They often do not get the proper credit or a fair cut of the profits.
Writers and translators need to start negotiating clear contracts as to how revenue is shared, and have new legal concerns on the table to protect against piracy. It is now up to international publishers too to adopt fairer policies so that the literary translation industry can be sustainable and all stakeholders involved can reap their deserved proportion.
