C5 HOUSE AB

How we work with agreements

A Swedish publishing company based in Malmö.

INTRO

C5 House is a home for stories, images, and games — and whether you're an author, an artist, or a game designer, the road from idea to finished work is a process. We believe in giving every step the time and space it needs. That's why we work with several types of agreements that follow your journey with us, from first contact to final publication.

A process in stages

We know that a publishing agreement is a major commitment — for you as a creator, and for us. That's why we don't rush to the final contract. Instead, we build the relationship and the project step by step, with clear agreements that reflect where we are in the process.

The process looks essentially the same whether it concerns a book, a work of art, or a game — but every agreement is naturally adapted to your field and your specific project.

Non-disclosure agreement (NDA) — the foundation of trust

As soon as we begin discussing your work, your idea, or your project in earnest, we sign a non-disclosure agreement. It protects you as a creator and ensures that everything you share with us — manuscripts, sketches, prototypes, concepts, research — is treated in confidence.

For us at C5 House, the NDA is a given starting point. You should be able to share your work with us without worry, and we take responsibility for handling it with the respect it deserves. Confidentiality applies even if our collaboration does not, for whatever reason, move forward.

Letter of intent — our first step together

When we've reviewed your material and see potential, but the project still needs development — or when we both want to get to know each other better — we often begin with a letter of intent.

A letter of intent is not a binding publishing agreement. Instead, it describes how we want to work together in the near term, what the next steps are, and what we both expect from the collaboration. It gives you as a creator the assurance that we take your work seriously — and it allows us to invest time and commitment in developing the project, without either of us being locked into a final decision.

The letter of intent covers, among other things, the timeframe, division of responsibilities, milestones, and rights during the development phase.

Option agreement — securing the way forward

If the project needs more work but we see a clear direction ahead, we may move on to an option agreement. It gives C5 House the first right to decide on publication once the work is complete, while you as a creator receive our commitment to actively continue working on the project.

The option agreement is an intermediate step that works well when editorial work, further development, prototyping, or additional material is needed before a final publishing decision can be made.

Publishing agreement — when the work goes out into the world

When the project is in place and we're ready, together, to bring the work to its audience, we sign a publishing agreement. This is our full and final contract, and it governs everything related to publication.

Because books, art, and games differ in nature, we work with three types of publishing agreements — each adapted to the practices, rights structures, and business models of its field:

• Book publishing agreements, covering rights, royalties, formats (print, ebook, audiobook), translation rights, and marketing.
• Art agreements, covering exhibition rights, sales, reproduction rights, commission, and the handling of original works.
• Game agreements, covering IP rights, platforms, revenue sharing, potential sequels, and rights to underlying material such as music, graphics, and code.

Whatever the field, we follow industry practice and build on established frameworks to ensure the agreement is fair, clear, and professional — for both parties.

Our approach

For us at C5 House, agreements are not about tying creators down. They're about creating clarity and trust. When both parties know what applies, what's expected, and what comes next, we can put our energy where it belongs — on the work.

Have questions about how our agreements work, or thinking about submitting a project?