Hermann is noted for publishing several volumes of the Éléments de mathématique, a treatise in pure mathematics by the pseudonymous collective Nicolas Bourbaki.
The Éléments became an influential series in 20th century mathematics, and Hermann benefitted in its role as publisher.
Decades later, during the 1970s, Bourbaki and Hermann entered an extended legal battle over matters of copyright and royalty payment.
The suit was resolved toward the end of the decade, with the result that Bourbaki retained copyright of its work and volumes of the Éléments would be printed by other publishers, going forward.
[2][3] Although Hermann lost publishing rights to the Éléments, the first, historical editions of the work bear its imprint.