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....
Legal Challenges Of Writing Unauthorized Biographies
Biographies are grouped into two categories: biographies written with the subject’s permission and cooperation, aka authorized biographies, and biographies written without the subject’s permission and cooperation, aka...
Interview Releases — Should You Use One?
Recently, I completed a weekend intensive freelance writing course at UPOD Academy with David Hochman. I met a remarkable group of accomplished writers who have inspired me to write about the legal issues freelance writers and...
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...
The Legal Hurdles Of Writing True Crime Books
The highly popular publishing genre, True Crime, brings to mind a slew of great books like Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, Vincent Bugliosi’s Helter Skelter, Cathy Scott’s The Killing of Tupac Shakur, or Ann Rule’s The Stranger...
Life Story Rights – Clearance and Acquisition for Literary Works
Truth is stranger than fiction. It is an old adage that, for writers, equals entertainment. Maybe the story is uplifting or heroic, sad or horrific. Maybe the story is a retelling of noteworthy events, a glimpse into the private...
Pilfering News Events For Your Fiction – Is it Legal?
Over the holiday, Kristin from Florida asked if she could use a current news story in her fiction without being sued. This question arises often and in various permutations, like writing about relatives, celebrities, politicians,...