The principles of copy-editing are the same whether you are working electronically or on paper, although some of the procedures are different. This chapter discusses the fundamental tasks that all copy-editors have to deal with and explains in section 3.6 how the typescript should be marked if you are editing on paper. We use the word ‘typescript’ to mean either the author's typed copy that will be set by the typesetter, or, as is more usual nowadays, a hard-copy printout that the typesetter will be following to amend the author's electronic files. If you are working on screen, you should refer to chapter 16 as well.

VARIOUS LEGAL ASPECTS

The copy-editor is one of the few people who read a book or journal thoroughly before publication, and an incidental but extremely important part of the copy-editor's role is to keep an eye open for any legal problems, so it is useful to have some knowledge of the key areas of publishing law.

The right of integrity

Under the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988, an author has the right to object to derogatory treatment of his or her work, ‘derogatory’ being defined as a ‘distortion or mutilation of the work’ or anything that is ‘prejudicial to the honour or reputation of the author’.