Session 1

Export vs. Licensing Models and the Future of Foreign Editions

This session will provide a brief overview and assessment of the traditional options available for foreign editions and then explore innovations in this area. We will assess the benefits and drawbacks in exporting vs. licensing from a financial and ministry perspective. Then, we will consider are these the only options? Is there a new model that could work through either channel? We will explore each model through real life examples brought from both the Licensing and the Export divisions. Welcome to the new world of Licensing.

Session 2

Market Reports: South Korea and Brazil

Korean and Portuguese often appear in the top five languages for publishers licensing translation rights. South Korea has the largest Christian population by percentage of all the countries in Asia with Christians comprising 29% of South Korea’s population. In Brazil, Christians make up 22% of the population. Yet both countries face challenges that are impacting the market for Christian books. What do rights managers need to know as we work with publishers in these markets? Join us to learn recent information about these key markets from respected industry professionals.

Marcos Simas will share a market report on Christian publishing in Brazil. As a 25-year veteran of the Brazilian publishing industry, Marcos has acquired Portuguese rights for over 500 titles for major general trade and Christian publishers in Brazil. He has served as both Acquisition Editor and Managing Editor on key books and Bible projects for several major publishers and also as an editorial consultant for both Christian and general trade publishers who want to acquire rights to translate into the Portuguese language from the American market. He currently works for Thomas Nelson Brazil, Geográfica Editora and Editora Planeta. Marcos is currently studying towards a Ph.D. in the field of Religious Studies.

Korea Christian Publishers Association (KCPA) is the primary organization for Evangelical Christian Publishers in South Korea. KCPA was founded in 1975 and currently represents 150 publishers. They support Korean publishing and the church by cultivating new readers and markets, promote sales of Korean books, providing training and market information, and leading international exchanges. They are committed to doing missionary work through books and serve as a vital resource to international publishers who license translation rights.

Session 3

Acquiring and Integrating Publishing Assets

If your organization buys another publishing business or sells a line or division, much of the work required to document the transaction and integrate or transfer the rights will fall on Rights professionals. This session will explore the top strategic issues to consider when buying or selling publishing companies or assets and steps you can take to facilitate a successful integration. Karen will address issues to consider before making an offer, steps to take in due diligence that can streamline the process of transferring and integrating the business after closing, and summarize the work required to complete the transaction. Drawing from recent transactions, the session will include “real-world” exercises to help shape your understanding of these transactions.

Session 4

Market Intelligence: Eastern Europe

It has taken almost two decades after the fall of the Iron Curtain for Central and Eastern European Christianity to become more visible in the world. Eastern Europe is overwhelmingly Christian by religion, at around 84%. With their communist past, Christian resources were at one time scarce in these countries. Some countries have recently experienced tremendous growth in publishing, while others struggle due to limited economic resources. Moscow, Bucharest and Budapest are the largest Eastern European cities, with around 1.8 million people each. This session will provide publishing and bookselling information from experts who live and work in these primary markets.

Moderated by Cindy Riggins, President, Riggins International Rights Services

Session 5

Digital Rights Licensing Models and the Future of e-Learning

As the ebook market has matured and flattened, publishers of Christian books are exploring new digital formats and platforms which deliver content tailored to consumer preferences. Are you maximizing revenue for disaggregated and customized applications of your content? As post-secondary students have shifted from print to digital course materials, are your academic books available on the most effective e-learning platforms? How should a publisher evaluate and license into these models? This session will summarize current models and future opportunities for digital licensing.

Session 6

Licensing Motion Picture Rights to Books

The past few years have seen growth in the number and profitability of Christian films. In more and more cases, these films are adapted from successful books published by ECPA houses. In this session, led by Los Angeles film and entertainment attorney Sam Curphey, you will learn the process by which producers license "book to film" rights from publishers. Sam will draw from numerous real-world examples to frame the discussion. He will walk through the key points for publishers to focus on in negotiating book option agreements and explain, in simple terms, how net profits from films are computed and paid. You do not want to miss the insights into the motion picture industry provided by this session.

Session 7

Building an Effective Rights Department

The purpose of a rights department is to expand the reach and revenue opportunities of a company’s proprietary product. There are also many intangible benefits, such as author relations, global positioning of a brand, etc. A small company’s rights person typically has multiple other responsibilities or a large company a team of rights professionals. Either way, the workload is typically heavy and very detailed due to the long-term components involved in licensing management. There are also the challenges of balancing revenue opportunities with ministry needs, working with various cultures, and changing markets. This session will assemble the best-practices and experiences to aid in the management of an effective rights department. Our panel will share their situations and recommendations, followed with an open forum of discussion.

Moderated by Cindy Riggins, President, Riggins International Rights Services