Frequently Asked Questions
How do I contact the Estate?
All general enquiries to the Estate and specific enquiries to Curtis Brown Heritage should be sent for the attention of Becky Brown at Curtis Brown Heritage: heritage@curtisbrown.co.uk
Book rights
- I’d like to publish a translation of Iain’s work.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage. - I’d like to quote something written by Iain in my own book.
This is called an ‘quotation right’ and can be fiddly to grant, as rights for different formats and territories can be spread across publishers and the Estate. Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage in the first instance. - I’d like to use Marain for something.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage. Please note that permission for commercial usages will not be granted.
Image rights
- I’d like to use a photograph of Iain.
The copyright in photographs is typically held by the photographer, although the rights in some images may have been transferred to the Estate. Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage in the first instance.. - I’d like to use one or more of Iain’s current or past book covers for something.
Usage rights for book covers sit with Iain’s various publishers, please direct your query to the relevant publisher. Please note that permission for commercial usages will not be granted. - I’d like to reproduce one or more of Iain’s Culture Drawings for something.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage.
Adaptation rights
- I’d like to adapt Iain’s work for radio, tv, streaming, film, stage or other platform.
Please contact the Estate’s media rights agent, Camilla Young, at Curtis Brown camilla.young@curtisbrown.co.uk - I’d like to perform readings or arrange a performance of Iain’s work.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage. - I’d like to set some of Iain’s work to music.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage.
Commercial questions
- I’d like to use Iain’s name or work to promote something I’m making/selling/doing.
The Estate will not approve this. - I have written fan fiction and would like to put it on sale/self-publish it.
The Estate will not approve this.
Cultural & academic questions
- I’d like to exhibit some of Iain’s manuscripts/drawings in an exhibition.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage. - I’d like to access the Iain Banks publishing archive.
Iain’s archive is held at the University of Stirling, instructions for requesting access can be found here: [link to Archive page]. Please note that the archive is only available for academic study, and all requests are referred to the Estate for consideration. - I’m involved with an independent bookshop, library, charity or literacy programme and would like to arrange an event, project or display about Iain and his work.
Please contact Curtis Brown Heritage. - I’d like to interview someone from the Estate.
Generally speaking the Estate does not give interviews but do please ask, there are occasional exceptions.
Other questions
- I absolutely love an adaptation of Iain’s work – who do I congratulate?
Great! You should congratulate the production company who made it, they will be chuffed to bits. - I’m absolutely disgusted with an adaptation of Iain’s work – who do I berate?
Oh dear. The thing is, adaptations aren’t made for fans of the book, they’re made to bring new readers to the book, and it’s the Estate’s job to get as many people reading Iain as possible. Treat the offending adaptation like a wasp – sit still, breathe, don’t panic, it will go away in a minute and you can get on with your life, furious but otherwise unharmed. - Why did the Estate approve SpaceX using Iain’s ship names for their drone ships?
We didn’t. - I have a question for the Estate which isn’t covered here.
That’s fine – just get in touch with Curtis Brown Heritage and they will make sure we see it.