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.
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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?
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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
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I own an unpublished, bound manuscript (non-fiction/historical).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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 -...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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
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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
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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?
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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?
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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My novel was inspired by a golden-age musical. The setting is different but the plot threads and characters are similar. Am I plagiarizing?
I seem to see some similar questions to this, but not ones that answer my question well enough that I feel confident, so I’d love some feedback on my specific situation.
I am a few chapters in to ...
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Am I legally allowed to expand someone else's short story into a novel?
For years I told a short story in my kindergarten classroom. It was written and freely shared by the writer. I rewrote the short story (2-3 pages) into a middle grade chapter book, expanding the plot, ...
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I have a character that has a slightly similar name to a title of a book. Do I have to change it even though it’s spelled completely different?
I have a character name that is similar to a book title. However the name is a fantasy type name but I spell it completely different. Will I get in trouble for my character having a similar name?
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Legality of screenshots from TV commercials
Screenshots from TV commercials.
I'm writing a book on costume design for students and I want to show an image from A TV commercial showing an example of advertising costuming style. Is it legal to ...
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Can I name characters after characters in another work of fiction, or is that going to lead to copyright issues?
I have a novel in mind to write and I want to name the main two characters after two minor characters in Star Trek. They are not at all alike or connected in any way, but Star Trek is very important ...
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Posting Poetry by Deceased Persons
Do I have a legal right to post poetry on FB from my deceased grandmother's journal, written by others now deceased, in the 1920's, which includes their names and addresses? The journal was given to ...
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A Novel Based Off A Song...How Close Can It Get?
I have recently become obsessed with the song Devil Town by Cavetown. I haven't been that into writing recently and this song has really inspired me. I was wondering what's a yes and whats a no to ...
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Seeking advice on safeguarding my manuscript
I'm an Australian writer who is contemplating sending my manuscript to a novel editor in America. I'm concerned about the possibility of my work being claimed by someone else. Given my limited ...
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Can I publish a collection of poetry that alludes to other authors such as Shakespeare and Wordsworth without violating copyright?
I am a teacher. My students want to self publish their work as a collection of poetry and short stories.
Some of their assignments were to allude to other works and authors—like Wordsworth or ...
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Can I use more specific monsters and creatures legally?
To be specific, metallic or chromatic dragons for an example. I know mindflayers and beholders and such are way off the list. But is the concept of dragons in distinct categories like this too similar ...
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Rights Clearance for Self-Publishers
Asking a lawyer to vet a book would be very expensive. Someone told me a better option is to hire a firm that specializes in reviewing books for intellectual problems, publicity rights, defamation, ...
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Can emphasizing a point qualify as fair use?
I'm learning the ropes regarding fair use. An important key word appears to be "transformative." If I'm writing political commentary, and I violently disagree with someone else's opinion, I ...
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How can I know if my character name is already taken? If it is, can I use the same name?
I am creating an action/adventure comic strip in the vein of Indiana Jones. Currently the character’s name is Panda Jack. The strip will have a title like “Panda Jack and the… fill-in-the-blank”. I am ...
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Recreating public domain children's stories and using the original illustration?
Personally, I love old children's books. The artwork is phenomenal. Recently I saw more than one person selling Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. I do not intend to take public domain stories from one ...
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Copyright question?
Can I use the phrases "what do you see?" and "I see--" that is used in Brown Bear, Brown Bear in a children’s book, or are those phrases copyrighted? My book is about Halloween ...
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Is it copyright infringement if my character is pretty similar to another character?
I want to create a manga. The problem is that my characters are pretty similar to oshi no ko characters. For example, the main character has the star eyes like ai eyes, and her eyes are purple. ...
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Do I need to ask real locations' permission to use them in my story?
I have written a children's book about dragons and the things they do in Texas. Do I need to ask i.e. the Lubbock Arboretum if it's okay that I mention them in my story? So my question is: When do I ...
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Can I say the word LEGO in my book [duplicate]
Can I say the lego set was destroyed on perpouse by someone?
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Is it a copyright violation to quote another book in my book?
I am writing a novel from the perspective of a character who is very obsessed with Chuck Palahniuk’s “Fight Club.” This is essential to the character and can’t be changed, but I can (and will, ...
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Would this be a copyright issue?
I had an idea for a book like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" but based on a popular children’s movie. If the artwork is my own, would there be any possible copyright issues?
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Applying copyright for book with photos
When we register a book for copyright, do we need to apply for separate copyright registration for the photos in the book?
And how about the front and back cover, can we add those to the pdf file of ...
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Is my story too much like Harry Potter?
Is my story too much like Harry Potter?
My story is set in a magical world hidden within our own, and it has many magical version of things we do.
It has wands but I have decided to change it and ...
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How is AI treated in terms of copyright?
If a writer uses an AI tool and enters a prompt then uses the tool's output, is that copyright infringed?
Just to be more clear with my question. I am not talking about a prompt that says "Write ...
user59777
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Can I use a song and/or quotes when writing a play?
I would like to write a one act play based on a song. Would I be violating any copyright issues or anything for this approach?
A music video was made for the song and one film used it for its opening ...
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Is this plagiarism or against copyright?
The main character is an Isekai'd individual who gains a summon skill that lets her create templates of her summons. She makes a summon called Kuriboh that initially can multiply and explode. Some of ...
