Author, publisher fight over Patyala rights

Two publishers print debutant's novel, author Chandraprakash Mohata sends notice

A debutant author from Ahmedabad has issued legal notices to Diamond Pocketbooks Ltd for publishing his novel without signing a contract with him.

Chandraprakash Mohata said he found this out two months after another publisher had officially published the book.

But Diamond Book Chairman N K Verma said Mohata had already intimated through email that he would like Diamond to publish the novel.

He said he emailed Mohata on April 1 saying he had received the script of Patyala Down De Throat and that he had forwarded it to the editorial department. Diamond will inform him if they decide to publish the book, the email further said.

"If we publish it, you will have to buy 200 copies and pay Rs 25,000," said the email.

To this, Mohata reportedly replied: "I request you to please proceed with my novel keeping in mind the acceptance of all terms and conditions laid by you from my side. Publishing my novel Patyala with 'Diamond' is the bottomline."

Mohata said he did not receive any communication from Diamond after that email and so approached Srishti Publishers and Distributors, who signed a contract with him on May 19 and subsequently published the novel. Mohata said he later found out there were two versions of the book — one published by Srishti and the other by Diamond.

He said he was 'shocked' when he 'discovered the same novel listed in the Sunday Tribunal published by Diamond Pocket Books'.

Verma, however, claimed that Mohata sent him an email with a synopsis and script of the novel in February.

"When Mohata sent his acceptance through email, we began printing it and the novel was out in the market by May 15. He clearly accepted the terms in the email. So why would I assume otherwise?" Verma said.

... contd.

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