Amazon have piloted a brand new scheme that will surely divide opinion.
For the first time ever, writers can pen fan fiction and actually earn money from it.
Introducing Kindle Worlds. Amazon have come to terms with several leading rights holders around the world and are piloting an experimental program that sees writers getting paid for expanding the worlds of their favourite intellectual properties in their own way. The licenses Amazon have acquired include Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries. More licenses will be announced soon.
The campaign will allow writers to produce fan fiction for their favourite TV, films and yes…games.
Once submitted, the works will be available to download on the Kindle store.
Amazon will pay royalties to the holders of the rights, as well as the author.
The standard author’s royalty rate (for works of at least 10,000 words) will be 35% of net revenue. As with all titles from Amazon Publishing, Kindle Worlds will base net revenue off of sales price—rather than the lower, industry standard of wholesale price—and royalties will be paid monthly.
In addition, with the launch of Kindle Worlds, Amazon Publishing will pilot an experimental new program for particularly short works—between 5,000 and 10,000 words. For these short stories—typically priced under one dollar—Amazon will pay the royalties for the World’s rights holder and pay authors a digital royalty of 20%.
The Kindle Worlds store is expected to open in June and will have over 50 commissioned works at launch.
This could create some potentially interesting scenarios, especially for gaming.
Would you use this?
(Source: Amazon)
(Via Leaky News)