Using Song Lyrics In Fiction
I hear this question often — “Can I use song lyrics in my fiction?” I completely understand. Music provides great inspiration for writers. A few lines from “In Da Club” by 50 Cent could be brilliant character insight. Mozart’s “Queen of the Night” aria from The Magic Flute could easily communicate a mood. “Eleanor Rigby”…
A blog where the practice of law meets the profession of writing | Posted weekly by writers who are attorneys | Designed to help fellow writers with questions about publishing law or legal scenarios in their fiction
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The Copyright Small Claims Court
For those wanting to enforce your copyright against an infringer but have steered away from federal court because the litigation process was too complex, time-consuming, and expensive (possibly hundreds of…
Happy July 4th Week!
Or, in the words of the King of England from Hamilton, “Happy Treason Day, Ungrateful Colonials.” We’re off partying like it’s 1776. Drinks up. Grill hot. Sparklers lit! Enjoy your holiday.
Using Music and Film Clips Without Violating Copyright Law
If you are creating book trailers, audiobooks, or online videos that include preexisting music or film clips, copyright law can be one of your biggest headaches. The first step to…
Publishing Scams
The writing industry is competitive, and with so many aspiring authors out there, it’s no wonder that scammers worm their way into the industry to take advantage of a writer’s…
Creative Collaborations: What to consider in joint venture agreements
“I’ve got a really great story for you to write.” Writers hear that line often, especially if they have reached some level of success as an author. It could be…
Collaborative Projects and Copyrights
What? It’s 2023 already? New year, new motto — Don’t sacrifice progress and success for perfection. Two writers recently entered into a collaborative project and midway through questions arose about…