For publishers
Digitize your backlist. All of it.
AI-powered OCR and formatting turns print backlists into publish-ready EPUBs at a fraction of the $1,000+ industry standard per title. You own every file, and every digitized title becomes one step away from an audiobook and a translation.
The backlist problem
Most publishers have deep backlists that exist only in print — titles that earn nothing digitally because conversion has historically cost $1,000+ per title once OCR cleanup, formatting, proofing, and QA are counted. At that price, only proven sellers get digitized, and the long tail stays dark.
AI changed the unit economics. Lex runs an AI-powered digitization pipeline — scan or print-PDF in, validated EPUB out — with automated OCR correction, structural markup (chapters, footnotes, front matter), and a human QA pass. The result is a publish-ready file at a fraction of the traditional cost, which makes digitizing an entire backlist viable instead of cherry-picking bestsellers.
What you get
- →Publish-ready EPUB 3 — validated, reflowable, retailer-compliant files with proper metadata, TOC, and accessibility structure.
- →Full ownership — you own every output and distribute wherever you choose — Amazon, Apple, Kobo, your own store, and optionally Lex.
- →Batch pricing — per-title cost drops with volume; whole-backlist projects are the sweet spot.
- →Onward pipeline — once a title is digitized, audiobook production and translation become one-step add-ons from the same source file.
How partnerships are structured
Three models, publisher’s choice: pay for the service and own everything (Production Services); trade production cost for licensing rights to distribute the title on Lex (Production Exchange); or pay-per-read revenue share with no upfront cost on either side. Most digitization projects run as Model A or B.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to convert a book to EPUB?
Traditional conversion houses charge $500–$2,000 per title depending on complexity (footnotes, tables, images). Lex’s AI-powered pipeline delivers validated EPUB 3 files at a fraction of that, with per-title cost dropping further on whole-backlist batches. Contact dm@lex-books.com for a quote on your catalog.
Do we keep the rights and the files?
Yes. Under the Production Services model you pay for conversion and own every output outright, with no obligation to distribute on Lex. The Production Exchange model trades some or all of the production cost for a non-exclusive license to carry the title on Lex.
Can you work from print-only books?
Yes. The pipeline accepts scans, print PDFs, or physical copies (scanned on intake). OCR errors are corrected by AI models trained on book-length text and verified by a human QA pass before delivery.
What about complex titles — footnotes, indexes, images?
Structural elements (footnotes, endnotes, tables, figures, indexes) are preserved and marked up in the EPUB. Genuinely complex titles are flagged during intake and quoted individually rather than forced through the standard pipeline.
Onboarding founding partners now.
Early movers get preferred terms and platform input.
David Mainayar · Founder & CEO