Copyright Basics For Writers
Writers frequently ask me at Sidebar Saturdays about copyright issues. The topic is a tad confusing but it is also one of the most important concepts a writer should understand. Why? Because copyright law provides legal...
Legal Protection For Fictional Characters – What can writers protect and what can others use?
The Short Answer Copyright laws protect fictional characters provided the characters are sufficiently unique and distinctive. Legal protection for fictional characters is separate from the legal protection extended to the...
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....
Happy Holidays!
Or should I say — Happy Holidaze! Fizz the season. Hope your holiday is festive, fun, and filled with a good book or three. Mine has been so calorie-laden, I’ve earned a new greeting — Merry Fitness and Happy...
Mandatory Copyright Deposit – Must You Comply?
An author recently contacted me about a letter they received from the Office of the Register of Copyrights. It was a Notice for Mandatory Deposit of Copies of her book for the use of the Library of Congress. The author thought it...