In September, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) announced two significant new awards for publishing rights professionals to be presented at this year’s Sharjah Publishers Conference.
Designed to support rights professionals and enhance opportunities for industry growth, the inaugural $5,000 Sharjah Rights Connection Award will be presented in two distinct categories: first, for an individual professional selling translation rights at a publishing company, and second for independent professionals or those working with specialised agencies to sell the rights to books to publishers and other licensors.
Announcing the awards, HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA, said: “Over the past decade, SIBF has been proud to put rights trading at the centre of our activities as a fitting reflection of its role at the core of the publishing industry. Protection of copyright and related rights of creators is vital to disseminate knowledge and ensure the sustainability of the global publishing industry. We are pleased with our efforts in this area to date and delighted to put those who are the superstars of the international rights world in the spotlight via the Rights Connection Awards. Rights professionals play a pivotal role in safeguarding the intellectual capital of creatives from infringement or unlicensed usage, enabling authors and creators to work freely and enhance their creativity.”
Submission criteria
Global rights professionals can be nominated by their company or can nominate themselves in either of the two categories of the SIBF Rights Connection Awards. Submissions need to be made in English and include two 500-word testimonials from clients that the nominated professional currently works with; the judges also request information on the growth of the nominated person’s business during the previous year, successful deals clinched, innovations, partnerships, and other achievements.
Registrations for the debut Sharjah Rights Connection Award opened in July this year, with winners due to be announced during the 12th Sharjah Publishers Conference this November.
