Trademarks and the Writer’s Brand Strategy
Trademarks are one of the most valuable business assets for creating recognition in the market place. Think of Coke, IBM, and FedEx. For writers wanting to build a brand, trademarks should be part of your brand strategy....
Parody, Satire, and Fan Fiction: What’s the difference?
Parody, satire, and fan fiction are terms often confused and misused in the writing spheres. But when it comes to copyright law, these three forms of creative expression are treated quite differently. Understanding the...
Using Orphan Works – When A Copyright Owner Is Impossible To Identify Or Locate
Two weeks ago, a reader contacted me about copyright permissions after reading my Derivative Works article. The writer intended to use copyright-protected letters she thought would make a shocking exposé. After attempting to...
How To Use Copyright Protected Images (and not violate copyright laws)
A picture is worth a thousand words, but is it worth a copyright infringement lawsuit? Using images found on-line has become common practice. Photos, graphics, book covers, illustrations, charts — people constantly use images on...
Pre-publication Legal Review Of Manuscripts — Six Things To Consider
One of the most essential steps an author must take prior to publication is to review their manuscript for risk of liability and legally sensitive material, otherwise know as “vetting” the manuscript. Not all books require...
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....