Questions tagged [copyright]
Questions involving matters of copyright, encapsulating parody and level of similarity questions, reprinting and publishing of copyrighted works, public domain, attribution, fanfiction, legality, and fair use questions. Any question involving copyright law in the U.S. or abroad should be given this tag.
25 questions from the last 365 days
2
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143
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At what point does a copyright move? AI
If a user generates a short story using AI, it has no copyright that the user can claim. Anyone can copy the story. If the user claimed they owned the copyright, one day it could catch up with them?
...
- 121
0
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1
answer
73
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When are references a copyright infringement?
References to other media are usually not an infringement, but can they infringe copyright in some rare cases? Can I reproduce short quotations or slightly long phrases (prases around 9-15 words long)?...
user66536
2
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2
answers
97
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I own an unpublished, bound manuscript (non-fiction/historical). Author is pseudonym, no citations. Can I cite/edit and assume some rights?
I have recently acquired a bound, typed, hand-finished (maps, ancient symbols) manuscript. The author has elected to use a pseudonym and I have exhausted hours of effort trying to find evidence to the ...
- 29
0
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0
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40
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Is my character too similiar to Jacks of the Hollow? [duplicate]
Okay so basically, the mmc of my story is a Fate named Nathaniel Thorn (name still tweaking).
Similarities
Blond
Tall
Fate
Cursed to never have happily ever after
Selfish, rude, etc
Fmc is true love
...
user67825
1
vote
2
answers
117
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I'm writing a graphic novel and I don't know if its too much like Percy Jackson [duplicate]
I'm writing a graphic novel about superheros and some of the elements of the story are similar to Percy Jackson. For example, one scene in my book is one of my characters deciding to save a kidnapped ...
0
votes
1
answer
65
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Copyright Related to Cosplay Artwork
I am working on a book about my history with e-sports, nerd culture and being a commentator for matches.
In the final chapter of the book I talk about my friend (who's been helping me sort over a ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
81
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Trademarked Name Use in Novel
Can I have a character's name be the same as the one in a popular children's book?
For example, the kids in a neighborhood think an old man is hiding something. This has been going on for years and ...
1
vote
1
answer
91
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I have some good story ideas for a TV series. If I write an outline using the characters from the TV series, can I copyright it?
I have been a closet writer for years. I have received lots of praise for my stories, but have never attempted anything "serious". I have a favorite TV series and have written some outlines -...
- 11
0
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2
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54
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How should someone tackle the legal issues of using the ideas of translations works of public domains?
Can you take the ideas (not the expressions) of characters or creatures for instance, from public domain even if you are having to research them using English translations? Do copyright laws prevent ...
- 13
1
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2
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152
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I'm planning to copyright my first short novel. What if after I copyright it, it needs revision?
I have finished my first short novel of one hundred pages with approximately 55,000 words. I'd like to register it with the copyright office. I know I don't have to, that it's already copyrighted if ...
- 13
0
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1
answer
171
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Nobody asked my permission to use my interview
After persistent requests I was interviewed for a podcast some years ago. The next day I wrote to them to ask not to use the recording as I had serious brain fog and was recovering from an illness [I ...
1
vote
1
answer
322
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Is it legal or illegal to print your fanfiction story into a physical book even if it's just for yourself only and not for profit?
I keep hearing all sorts of answers online about printing your fanfiction story into a physical book. Either it's okay or not okay to do as it is illegal and can break copyright. I can accept that it ...
- 11
0
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1
answer
77
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Can I print/publish a book that includes large sections of other books within my book?
I want to print a compilation of parts from several books for which rights I do not own. The "parts" cover several pages of the other books. In some cases 50-100 pages.
The sections are ...
- 103
0
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2
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109
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Is it legal to print out a book in a different language?
Theoretically, let's say I have a friend who speaks in a foreign language and cannot understand English very well. That friend wants to read a popular English book, but they can't read it because they ...
user64012
2
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3
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212
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Am I allowed to write a continuation of a book series/story I like? (Ex. Harry potter, Amulet, Wishtree etc.)
So I am a writer and I personally like to take ideas from other stories and make them my own. Of course I won't copy something obvious like "Once upon a time there was a boy name Parker Peter who ...
user64011
3
votes
2
answers
1k
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Do I need to provide a date of birth when I register a work for copyright in the USA?
It appears that the standard US Copyright application for a literary work makes giving one's birth date optional. Is that correct?
- 31
1
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2
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93
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Can I use a photo or a video from a press release without permission?
In your news article or book, is it ok to include a photo or a video from a press release without permission – by of course crediting the firm that has issued that press release?
- 131
3
votes
3
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141
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Selling small scenes?
I absolutely love writing small scenes. Smaller than a complete chapter. Is there any website where I can sell them? I am all for selling copyright over to whoever wants to write a story off of them, ...
1
vote
1
answer
106
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Can I legally rewrite another book if I change the setting and other aspects of the story?
Is it possible to rewrite a book into a more modern story to be a screenplay? That is, if there is an old book about a person who embarks on a life journey, and it's set in Africa, for example, and ...
2
votes
2
answers
116
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Is poetry written along the known song legal from the view point of copyright?
I wrote some (humorous) poetry that uses a known song as a pattern. The poetry could be sung instead of the original words of the song but I do not have any musical background to perform such a ...
- 173
3
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1
answer
524
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How can we avoid legal action from the family of a deceased dictator who we're caricaturing?
As we are writing a comic book, we find ourselves blocked by legal issues: The script contains fictional and real political elements including disputes and dialogues between dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu ...
- 139
0
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1
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316
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What does the line of numbers at the very bottom of the copyright page mean?
I wish to finally publish my manuscript and fill in the copyright page, but I notice, in other publications, at the very bottom of the copyright page, is a row of numbers. Or actually, two sets of ...
- 223
2
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1
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134
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What do these 3 numbers mean on the copyright page?
Text:
published in the USA by Hyperion Books for Children 2005
Published in Great Britain by Puffin Books 2005
This edition published 2013
020
What do the 3 numbers mean?
- 21
0
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1
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98
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Can I use a song lyric as the title of my theatre production?
I'm starting a theatre company and one of the ideas I have thought of for a production is an ongoing series of monologue/scratch evenings. I want to have the premise of each night to latch onto the ...
- 1
4
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1
answer
105
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How do I protect my future rights when approaching a publisher with a completed short story?
I have 11 non-fiction stories I am about to shop to magazine publishers. How do I protect my second and third . . . etc. publishing rights in my negotiations with first time publishers? How do I ...
