Call it a rant ….
I am writing about Bennett Books of Santa Fe. I am not a representative of the Estate of JG Bennett, or Elizabeth Bennett, but a family member who has become increasingly concerned about the actions of Bennett Books, and the relationship between them and the Estate.
I would like to inform ALL – that Bennett Books does NOT represent the Estate of JG Bennett or Elizabeth Bennett. The Estate of JG Bennett and Elizabeth Bennett is in no way connected with Bennett Books of Santa Fe, New Mexico – owned by James Tomarelli and Michela Aveta.
In 2010 the Estate became aware that all but 4*(those expire in November 2014) of the JG Bennett titles Bennett Books had been publishing with agreement had expired per contract. In fact many titles had expired, and Bennett Books continued to publish these titles without obtaining renewed contracts. This was and is a serious breach of contractual terms. Bennett Books also continued to “represent the Estate of JG Bennett” in writing foreign contracts, without proper authorization to do so. When the Estate contacted Bennett Books about these breaches, the Estate was met with hostility, and a disregard of the contract terms, saying the contracts were open to interpretation, and the Estate should sue them if the Estate so wished. Many of the terms in the contracts had been violated.
None of the contracts gave e-publishing rights. There is no language in the contracts to account for digital rights.
I am writing about Bennett Books of Santa Fe. I am not a representative of the Estate of JG Bennett, or Elizabeth Bennett, but a family member who has become increasingly concerned about the actions of Bennett Books, and the relationship between them and the Estate.
I would like to inform ALL – that Bennett Books does NOT represent the Estate of JG Bennett or Elizabeth Bennett. The Estate of JG Bennett and Elizabeth Bennett is in no way connected with Bennett Books of Santa Fe, New Mexico – owned by James Tomarelli and Michela Aveta.
In 2010 the Estate became aware that all but 4*(those expire in November 2014) of the JG Bennett titles Bennett Books had been publishing with agreement had expired per contract. In fact many titles had expired, and Bennett Books continued to publish these titles without obtaining renewed contracts. This was and is a serious breach of contractual terms. Bennett Books also continued to “represent the Estate of JG Bennett” in writing foreign contracts, without proper authorization to do so. When the Estate contacted Bennett Books about these breaches, the Estate was met with hostility, and a disregard of the contract terms, saying the contracts were open to interpretation, and the Estate should sue them if the Estate so wished. Many of the terms in the contracts had been violated.
None of the contracts gave e-publishing rights. There is no language in the contracts to account for digital rights.
All contracts had an end date for publishing rights, with
no language for extending the contracts by keeping books in print.
All foreign rights have language that they Bennett Books
should inform the Estate of the terms of the foreign rights granted, but Bennett
Books only informed the Estate “sort of” of one contract granted, of which the
terms are all in favor of Bennett Books, and no rights for the Estate. A
violation of agreement. The Estate, by research discovered other foreign rights
agreements signed by Bennett Books and foreign publishers. Most of which have
end dates beyond the contract agreements with Bennett Books for those titles.
Bennett Books agreement for Audio rights expired in 2010.
All sales of the Audio have never been accounted for – no royalties paid to the
Estate – ever! Bennett Books continues to sell audio – without rights to do so.
The Bennett Books Publishing Fund – The Estate recognizes
4 titles which expire in November 2014, and rights have not been granted to
extend the contracts. All of the JG Bennett titles have expired by date, and
rights have not been granted to Bennett Books to publish. Funds obtained by
Bennett Books to publish JG Bennett books( the JG Bennett Legacy) after 2010 – and
those not included in the 4 still in contractual standing – in my opinion – has
been fraudulently obtained. They have not informed the donator’s that the rights
to publish have expired. Donations to Bennett Books in my opinion is a donation
to the family of Tomarelli.
One title published by Bennett Books didn’t even have a signed contract.
Royalty payments have been late. Accounts are questionable.
One title published by Bennett Books didn’t even have a signed contract.
Royalty payments have been late. Accounts are questionable.
4 Contracts have clauses that void contracts if Bennett
Books advertises Gurdjieff Movements / Gurdjieff Dance – or seminars sponsored
by Bennett Books. Advertisements – inserts, or mentions on the websites of
Bennett Books. Bennett Books continues to place inserts into books, and the
website points to Gurdjieff dance. Bennett Books – disregards the contractual
terms.
All communication between the Estate and Bennett Books
has been met with hostility from Bennett Books.
To sue Bennett Books, the Estate would need to raise funds to do so. The amount would need to be held as a retainer to a lawyer to represent the Estate. The funds are not available for such an endeavor.
To sue Bennett Books, the Estate would need to raise funds to do so. The amount would need to be held as a retainer to a lawyer to represent the Estate. The funds are not available for such an endeavor.
Why am I writing this? Because – The JG Bennett
Foundation would like to publish the books of JG Bennett in book form. (Currently
the JG Bennett Foundation is e-booking as many as we can of the JG Bennett
titles) Funds are needed to publish the books – in the original form. - Bennett Books has taken liberty with inserting
quotes, and dedications that were not the wishes of JG Bennett. The Estate is
not pleased to have Bennett Books be the representative of the works of JG
Bennett.
I challenge Bennett Books to PROVE they have rights. To prove they are not short print publishing, and to PROVE that they will abide by the terms of any outstanding agreements. The e-books will revert to the estate in November 2014 – and any publishing rights for those titles. Bennett Books will inform foreign publisher’s that the contracts have expired in 2010 and reverted back to the Estate of JG Bennett. I think it is high time that Bennett Books of Santa Fe, New Mexico does the right thing – stop publishing print and e-books, stop asking for publishing funds, stop appearing to represent the Estate, and stop selling the audio.
The contracts and agreements have expired.
I could post the contacts online - if anyone so wishes – I can provide proof.
Apparently Bennett Books is for sale – one wonders if James Tomarelli will inform the buyer that they will have no rights to publish JG Bennett titles, or Elizabeth Bennett’s book?
The figure Bennett Books quoted in 2011 for the estate to purchase Bennett Books & only JG Bennett titles was well over 100K. In 1998 (or thereabout) was 35K for JG Bennett titles. I wonder what he is quoting others now, as he has not informed the Estate of a sale of Bennett Books.
I challenge Bennett Books to PROVE they have rights. To prove they are not short print publishing, and to PROVE that they will abide by the terms of any outstanding agreements. The e-books will revert to the estate in November 2014 – and any publishing rights for those titles. Bennett Books will inform foreign publisher’s that the contracts have expired in 2010 and reverted back to the Estate of JG Bennett. I think it is high time that Bennett Books of Santa Fe, New Mexico does the right thing – stop publishing print and e-books, stop asking for publishing funds, stop appearing to represent the Estate, and stop selling the audio.
The contracts and agreements have expired.
I could post the contacts online - if anyone so wishes – I can provide proof.
Apparently Bennett Books is for sale – one wonders if James Tomarelli will inform the buyer that they will have no rights to publish JG Bennett titles, or Elizabeth Bennett’s book?
The figure Bennett Books quoted in 2011 for the estate to purchase Bennett Books & only JG Bennett titles was well over 100K. In 1998 (or thereabout) was 35K for JG Bennett titles. I wonder what he is quoting others now, as he has not informed the Estate of a sale of Bennett Books.
