Translator and Publishing Agreement
for the EscapeReadz Portal
By confirming this agreement, the translator (hereinafter: Translator) agrees to the following terms and conditions for accepting, creating, and publishing translations on the EscapeReadz portal owned by Köhler GbR (hereinafter: Platform Operator):
§ 1 Project Acceptance & Genre Authenticity
(1) The Translator agrees to accept translation projects for book series only if they are thoroughly familiar and knowledgeable with the specific genre of the series.
(2) Translations in genres with which the Translator has little or no experience are expressly not to be accepted. This safeguard serves to maintain the literary authenticity, specific tone, and overall quality of the work in line with the interests of both the author and the platform.
§ 2 Translator Obligations
(1) The Translator agrees to complete the translation personally. Subcontracting or involving secondary translators or third parties is expressly prohibited.
(2) The Translator is permitted to use digital tools and translation software (e.g., Computer-Assisted Translation / CAT tools) for support and efficiency. However, final responsibility for the linguistic quality, style, and overall standard of the result rests entirely with the Translator.
§ 3 Deadlines & Delivery
(1) A strict deadline of 4 weeks (28 days) applies to the completion and submission of the full translation, starting from the time the source material (episode) is made available via the platform.
(2) If the Translator foresees an inability to meet the deadline due to illness or force majeure, they must inform the Platform Operator immediately.
§ 4 Rights & Distribution via the Platform
(1) The Translator grants the Platform Operator the exclusive right to digitally reproduce, distribute, and commercially offer the completed translation through the Platform Operator’s portal via a copy-protected e-reader.
(2) Each published translation is bound exclusively to the EscapeReadz portal for a period of at least 1 year (12 months) from the date of initial publication. Any use, publication, or commercial exploitation of the translated version outside of the portal is strictly prohibited during this period.
(3) If the author cancels or removes the underlying original series from the portal, distribution rights for the translation on the portal automatically terminate. Because a translation involves rights owned by both the author (original text) and the translator (translated text), any further publishing rights or external use outside of EscapeReadz following a series removal must be agreed upon directly and mutually between the author and the translator.
§ 5 Term, Termination & Platform Availability
(1) This agreement is entered into for an indefinite period and may be terminated by the Translator at any time.
(2) In the event of termination, the 12-month exclusivity requirement under § 4 (2) remains unaffected for all episodes published prior to the termination date. The translation will remain on the platform for this duration and continue to earn royalties via the pool.
(3) If the author cancels or removes the original series from the portal, distribution of the translation on the portal will automatically end after the minimum 12-month period expires. Because a translation involves rights owned by both the author (original text) and the translator (translated text), any further publishing rights or external use outside of EscapeReadz following a series removal must be agreed upon directly and mutually between the author and the translator.
§ 6 Compensation & Payouts (Subscription Pool)
(1) The Translator receives an ongoing, proportional pool royalty for their translation work.
(2) The royalty equals 50% of the book base amount determined for the respective work from the platform’s subscription pool.
(3) Financial processing and payout of royalties are handled directly by the Platform Operator to the Translator.
(4) Payouts occur monthly on the 15th day of the month following actual publication of the translated episode on the portal.
§ 7 Hardship (Death or Severe Illness)
In the event of death or severe illness that permanently prevents continuation of the translation, the Platform Operator must be notified as soon as possible (by the Translator or their legal representative/heirs) to mutually agree on the next steps regarding the series. In the event of death, financial claims under § 6 pass to the lawful heirs.
§ 8 Closing Provisions
(1) Where this agreement contains no specific provisions, general statutory laws regarding copyright and contract law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply.
(2) If any individual provision of this agreement is or becomes invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
I acknowledge and explicitly agree that upon reaching gross earnings of 10,000 euros within a calendar year, a limited tax liability applies. Unless a valid exemption certificate (issued by the Federal Central Tax Office) is provided by the time of settlement, the platform is legally required to withhold 15.82% of earnings exceeding this threshold (withholding tax incl. solidarity surcharge) and remit it directly to the competent tax authority.
