Rights & Copyright

Effective date: October 12, 2026

MTN Duck Press is a publisher, not a rights buyer. Every author we work with keeps the copyright in their own work.

Your work stays yours

The author owns the work and its copyright, including the text, characters, series, and the work as it appears in each edition. We do not become the copyright owner, register the copyright in our name, or treat the work as a work made for hire.

Under a separate written publishing agreement, an author gives MTN Duck Press a limited license to produce and manage only the specific editions and sales channels identified in that agreement. The license lasts only while we are actively publishing those editions through those channels. It does not grant us any other rights.

We use two kinds of publishing agreement, and both start with an application:

• A la carte services. The author pays per service, up front, publishes through their own Amazon KDP, Lulu, IngramSpark, and other accounts, and keeps every dollar of retail royalties. Nothing is exclusive.
• Exclusive publishing license. We produce and manage the listed editions and collect the retail royalties. The standard production fees come out of those royalties as they come in, and everything left over is split 50/50 with the author. The initial term is two years, then it renews automatically one year at a time unless either side gives written notice or ends the agreement. Even under this license, the author owns the copyright and can end the agreement.

Nobody signs up for either one directly. Authors apply, we read the application, and we offer the arrangement that fits that author and that book. We will not take on a book just because someone is willing to pay. If a book has not been published before, or has no sales history, we offer a la carte services, because on an exclusive license we carry the production cost and can only do that where the track record supports it. If we pass on a book, the author keeps every right to it and owes us nothing.

Rights the author keeps

Unless a written agreement specifically says otherwise, all rights remain with the author, including:

• Film and television rights
• Audiobook rights
• Translation and foreign-language rights
• Serial and anthology rights
• Merchandise rights
• Character rights
• Sequel rights
• Series rights

Copyright notice in our books

Our books use this notice, with the year of publication and the author's chosen name:

(c) [Year] [Author Name or Pen Name]. All rights reserved.

MTN Duck Press website content

The MTN Duck Press name and logo, and the original text and design on this website, are owned by Hardball HQ LLC d/b/a MTN Duck Press.

© 2026 Hardball HQ LLC d/b/a MTN Duck Press. All rights reserved.

This notice does not claim ownership of authors' works or other material credited to its respective owner.

Think your work has been used here?

If you believe material on this website infringes your copyright, send a notice to our designated agent using the contact details on our Copyright Infringement & DMCA Notice page. Include the information requested on that page so we can identify the material and review your claim.

Designated agent: Hardball HQ LLC
Email: mtnDuck@HardballHQ.com
Mailing address: available upon request

Please note

Information on this website is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your rights or a particular agreement, consult a qualified attorney.