Legal Definitions - serial right

Definition: Serial right is a publishing contract that gives the author or publisher the right to publish a manuscript in installments, such as in a magazine, before or after the book's publication.

Example: An author signs a publishing contract that includes a serial right clause. The publisher decides to release the book in installments in a popular magazine before the book's official release date.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a serial right clause in a publishing contract allows the author or publisher to release a manuscript in installments. In this case, the publisher chose to release the book in a magazine before the official release date to generate buzz and interest in the book.