About Gryphon Publishing Consulting

About Gryphon Publishing Consulting

Meet our Founder & Principal Rights Consultant

Mary Jo (“MJ”) Courchesne is the owner and principal consultant of Gryphon Publishing Consulting. She is a publishing veteran with over 25 years of experience in trade, academic, and direct-response publishing, and specializes in licensing, subsidiary rights, and permissions. MJ served as adjunct professor for 16 years in The George Washington University’s Masters in Professional Studies in the Field of Publishing and is a polished presenter at conferences and meetings. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) where she is also a member, is a member of the Rights Committee of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG), serves as secretary on the board of directors for The Big Easy in Buffalo and is a member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. She has also served in the CASE Act Implementation Working Group with the Copyright Alliance, and on the board of experts with the National Association of Writers and Editors (NAIWE). She currently lives in Buffalo, NY with her husband and two rescued dogs.

Image of Principal Consultant and owner, Mary Jo Slazak Courchesne
Image of Principal Consultant, MJ, speaking to a class she is teaching about permissions rights.

Our Values & Vision

Authenticity

GPC strives to be a one stop shop for our clients' licensing needs. If this is your first creation or your 100th, our thoroughness and our drive for our client's best interest is the same.


Education

We use our expertise to educate, and to make our knowledge accessible and affordable to all creators. At Gryphon Publishing Consulting, we believe everyone should Know Their Rights! Make sure to check out our Online Course opportunities as we release them and follow our blog for up-to-the-minute news on copyright, licensing, and rights!


Creativity

As we work with creators, creativity is huge for us. We love to think outside the box for our clients, and introduce them to ideas that they never thought possible. We strive to utilize our 25 years of experience to your advantage, to create synergistic partnerships and opportunities unique to your content.

 

Development

You will see through working with us that our continuing own education is never finished. As emerging technologies like AI change the publishing landscape, and despite our years of experience in the field, the world of publishing rights & permissions is constantly adapting and expanding as its environment demands. You can count on us to know the current conditions of the market to best serve your needs.


Diversity & Inclusion

As a woman-owned small business currently based in Buffalo New York, Gryphon Publishing Consulting has grown into a local business global reach. The world of books, publishing, and rights has historically been one of privilege and exclusion, but Gryphon Publishing Consulting strives to continue to learn and help make it a space for every person regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or unique ability. 

Our Professional Affiliations

independent book publishers association logo


Proud Member

Independent Book Publishers Association

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

Proud Member

society of childrens books writers and illustrators logo

Copyright Alliance

copyright alliance logo





Proud Member

Book Industry Study Group




Proud Member

book industry study group logo

  • What does a Publishing Consultant do?

    A publishing consultant utilizes their years of expertise to help educate others about the industry and can leverage their knowledge to assist clients in achieving their publishing goals.

  • I'm publishing a book or other piece of content. Do I need to obtain permissions for anything?

    You will only need to obtain permission if you are using content that someone else created. If you have created all of the content within your book, and have not paraphrased, borrowed, cropped, flopped, colorized, resized, reused any quotes or excerpts from anyone else's content, then you probably will not need permission. If you are unsure about any of the material in your work, contact Gryphon Publishing Consulting for a manuscript evaluation.

  • I only want to reuse 10% or less of some previously-published content. Do I need permission to reuse it in my book?

    Unfortunately, U.S. Copyright law has no "bright line" rules when it comes to re-use of content. The only usage that may be permitted is one that is considered a Fair Use. Contact Gryphon Publishing Consulting if you need a Fair Use manuscript review, or to talk further about permission for your upcoming project.

  • I think I might need permission from someone to use their content in my published work. How do I go about getting their permission?

    You will first need to research the copyright owner of the content. This may be a publisher, an agent, or the artist, photographer, or writer themselves. Once you find them, you will need to formally ask for their permission to use their work in your published content. This process may take several months from research through final permission. Unsure where to start? Talk to Gryphon Publishing Consulting and let us help you get the permissions you need.

  • How can I protect myself and my book or my work from copyright infringement?

    The first step in protecting your work is to register your work with the U.S. Copyright Office. Doing so creates a public record of your work and allows you to enforce your copyright against infringement.

  • How can I protect my intellectual property?

    You gain copyright on your content as soon as you place your work in a fixed medium (whether on paper, on canvas, or saved on your hard drive). However, you should consider registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office in order to be able to enforce your copyright against infringement.

  • Why should I hire a rights manager?

    If you have several books, or a catalog of photographs or other creative works that are in demand from other parties for licensing or permissions, you may wish to hire a rights manager to handle the negotiations and contracts on your behalf so that you can do what you do best: create! Similarly, if you are an independent publisher with a growing catalog that may "have legs" in other formats, territories, or languages, you may wish to hire a rights manager to explore outbound licensing opportunities for you.

  • Is Gryphon Publishing Consulting a publisher?

    No. Although we are not a publishing house, our staff knows and works with a large range of publishers, authors, photographers, creators, and others who work in and for the publishing industry. Our expertise lies in copyright, permissions, and management of intellectual property rights.

  • Is Gryphon Publishing Consulting a literary agency?

    No. Gryphon Publishing Consulting is not a literary agency, but it can help creators and publishers manage their intellectual property and grow their brand through smart content licensing. Let us help you negotiate the best deal and get the compensation you deserve for your work.

Publishing Consulting Frequently Asked Questions