Royalty Management Information:
Software, Resources, & More
Royalty Information & Resources
With over 25 years of royalty management experience, MetaComet® Systems has mastered the science of calculating, paying, and reporting on royalties. We’ve compiled these resources to help you do the same.
How Royalties Are Paid: A Guide for Licensees & Publishers
At MetaComet, we work with financial professionals across a wide range of industries to make royalty processes smoother, more accurate, and more efficient. In this guide, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions from licensees and publishers about how royalties are paid.
What are Patent Royalties? Agreements & Reporting Explained
For finance professionals working in biotech, understanding how patent royalties work is essential for managing budgets, structuring agreements, ensuring compliance, and supporting strategic business decisions.
Publishing Industry Solutions | Software for Business
In an era of rapid transformation, the book publishing industry is under more pressure than ever to modernize, streamline operations, and do more with fewer resources. Choosing the right software makes a huge difference for any publishing company’s success.
Royalty Statements Guide | Info, Examples & Solutions
Learn how to format, read, and interpret royalty statements, and spot errors.
How Do Royalties Work? Our Guide to Agreements & Payments
A guide that explains how royalties work, demystifies the underlying agreements, and offers insights into automating payments.
Case Study: Royalties Made Simple—and Flexible
Christopher Robbins, Founder and CEO of Familius, has been in the publishing industry since 1992. When he launched Familius in 2012, he needed a royalty management system that was efficient, affordable, and scalable. “I wanted a system,” he says, “That with a push of a button would give me my royalty statements and not take a lot of time.”
Case Study: Reducing the Royalty Workload from Months to Days
Megan Trank is the client manager for financial statements for IPG, the leading book distribution and sales company. She previously oversaw accounting and royalties, among other responsibilities, for a small independent book publisher. In both roles, she used MetaComet’s Royalty Tracker® to drastically reduce the time she spent calculating royalties, distributing statements, and providing guidance to royalty recipients.
Different Types of Royalties: Key Insights & Examples
Here we’ll explore the different types of royalties, from creative industries like book publishing and video games to the worlds of science, technology, and natural resources. We’ll cover the key mechanisms of how they work and provide simple examples for each type to give you a comprehensive understanding of royalties in various sectors.
Royalty Advances 101 – A Comprehensive Guide for Publishing
A royalty advance, sometimes known as an advance against royalties, is a standard feature of author payments in book publishing. It may also be used in other media, entertainment, and licensing industries, when creators are paid for a work that is acquired and sold by a publisher, studio, distributor, or other business entity. In this Q&A, we will define the term “royalty advance” and answer other related questions.
How Are Royalties Calculated? Assessment & Reporting Tips
Royalties are a crucial aspect of financial management in various industries, particularly in publishing, biotechnology, franchising, and natural resources. Here’s a detailed overview of how royalties are calculated, when they are paid, typical percentages, and related concepts.
Frequently Asked Royalty Information Questions
What are royalties and how are they paid?
A royalty is a payment made by one party (the licensee) to another (the licensor) for the ongoing use of an asset, commonly a piece of intellectual property. Payment methods and frequency are established in a royalty licensing agreement between the two parties. For more details, see our article entitled, “How Do Royalties Work?”
How much is the average royalty check?
Royalty payments vary widely across different industries and within industries as well, depending on the value of the asset being licensed, the sales volume within the royalty period, and many other factors. So, there is no such thing as an average, normal, or typical royalty check. To learn more about the elements that affect a royalty check, see our article, “How Are Royalties Calculated?”
How do I calculate my royalties?
Royalties are calculated based on a percentage of sales revenue or a flat fee per unit sold. The percentage or fee is agreed upon in a royalty licensing agreement between the licensor and licensee. The agreement will also outline other variables that will affect royalty payments. For more information, read our post, “How Are Royalties Calculated?”
Who receives royalty payments?
Royalty recipients include copyright holders (like writers, illustrators, and composers), patent owners (such as inventors), natural resource owners, and franchisors, among others. See our article, “What Are Royalties in Business?” for further examples of people and companies that receive royalty payments.
What types of royalties exist?
Common types of royalties include book publishing royalties, music royalties, patent royalties, franchise fees, and oil and gas royalties. Our blog post, “Different Types of Royalties,” goes into more detail about the various types of royalties you may encounter.
How often are royalties paid out?
Payments are typically made quarterly or annually, and sometimes monthly or semiannually, depending on the terms of the royalty agreement.
What is included in a royalty agreement?
A royalty licensing agreement will include, at a minimum, a definition of the rights granted, usage conditions, and payment terms. Our article about “How Do Royalties Work?” delves into the deeper details of royalty agreements.
Are royalties taxed?
Yes, royalty payments are taxed as income.