All Questions
334 questions
18
votes
8
answers
3k
views
What's a good way to backup your writing?
One of the most important things for writers to do is to back up their work so that in the event of a computer failure, their work isn't lost. But where's a good place to do that? A lot of storage ...
- 5,696
7
votes
6
answers
19k
views
Is translating into another language plagiarism?
I'm currently writing my Masters thesis in English.
If I take some (small) German text snippets from some papers (I'm German-speaking) and just translate them into English, would this be plagiarism?
...
- 5,696
1
vote
2
answers
103
views
How to license my translation to be published under my copyright?
I am planning to translate a paper and distribute it with my name as translator with a license that permits free redistribution of the work with my copyright notice and welcomes donation support. What ...
- 5,696
6
votes
2
answers
275
views
How do I calculate how many copies I am planning to print?
I wrote a fan-fiction story and had emailed a company to get a license from them so I could publish it. (The license would cover copyright stuff, etc.)
However, the person in charge of licensing ...
- 5,696
3
votes
2
answers
343
views
What will be the copyright situation if I self-publish an anthology of my unpublished short stories?
If I'm planning on self-publishing an anthology of unpublished short stories that I wrote, do I also need to copyright each story, or will the entire anthology's copyright suffice for each story?
- 5,696
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to quote a book in my novel?
I write as a hobby and so my works are pretty amateur, but I still try to keep my writing as legitimate and proper as I can. My novel is about how a teenage boy (who is notorious for being a bad ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
4
answers
518
views
Can I change my work and seel it if I am published with no contract?
I have had a falling out with my publisher. She has published many of my works and is telling me I am not legally able to resell my work anywhere. I have no contract to refer to. There is no verbal ...
- 5,696
9
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is it plausible to get a contract with an US/UK publisher as a foreigner?
Looking for some insight in the publishing industry.
Is it even remotely plausible to get published in with an English-language publishing house (UK/US), when you're not a national nor a resident of ...
- 5,696
8
votes
2
answers
195
views
How does collaboration affect a publishing contract?
A publishing contract is generally a contract between a publisher and an author; a collaboration seems to add an additional party to the agreement. I would like to know what kind of complications this ...
- 5,696
9
votes
3
answers
387
views
Is it legal to name a character in a story after a disguised trademark?
I'm writing a sci-fi book series. As a true nerd, I want to use some characters to "do homage" to famous scientists, acronyms for experimental methods, and (here's the question) trademarked ...
- 5,696
7
votes
2
answers
205
views
When a publisher buys the copyright for my books, does that include the pen name I used?
Years ago, I wrote many westerns under half a dozen names for a publisher. They bought the copyright and published them. Now I'm hoping to write for a different publisher.
Can I still use one of the ...
- 1,346
10
votes
1
answer
185
views
Where can I find information about a contract that allows two authors to use a "shared world"?
A friend of mine was gracious enough to let me write a story using a setting he has been using for his own novel. I finished my novella while he is still working. I am looking at indie publishing the ...
- 5,696
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is it considered trademark infringement to use the name of a real business in a novel?
I am writing a pivotal scene for my novel that is set in Red Square of Moscow. A very wealthy bureaucrat is leaving a famous, high end store that exists in real life.
Is it considered trademark ...
- 4,405
11
votes
1
answer
404
views
Does the Creative Commons license protect my writing on the web?
I usually write on the web and I would like to license my writings using one of the Creative Commons licenses, but I can't understand how that license can protect our works. We really like to share ...
- 5,696
6
votes
1
answer
479
views
Can I quote an infamous line from a satire written in the 18th century in my novel?
I marked it with a footnote containing the writer's name, the work's title and copied the "Publisher" section from Wikipedia so far.
What about the English translation of the original French quote?
...
- 25.7k
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can I quote dictionary definitions without permission/attribution in a fiction novel?
In the fiction novel I’m writing, the MC often searches a dictionary for the definition of a certain word, then recites the result in narration or in dialogue. For example,
I took out my phone. He ...
- 56.5k
1
vote
1
answer
157
views
Can I use characters from other books if it's obvious that they aren't my characters? [closed]
I actually do not have any plans to use any characters from another book in any of my books (either as fan fiction, a joke, or a reference). Out of interest, though, would it be legal to pull in a ...
- 2,232
2
votes
3
answers
186
views
Autobiography and lawsuits [closed]
If I write an autobiography and include living family members who have done some very strange things, am I at the risk of being sued?
1
vote
2
answers
492
views
Is it legal for my book title to be similar to another book's title?
My book's title is similar to Around the World in 80 Days. The premise is making a journey in 80 days and while I am sure that using a similar premise is fine (especially since my book is a bit of a ...
- 3,744
1
vote
2
answers
324
views
Can I use a scientific theory for my story?
Let's say that I read an article on a scientific magazine about, I don't know, a new cosmological model or something theorized by a very smart guy.
Can I use it as the core idea of my sci-fi story or ...
2
votes
1
answer
201
views
How do I reconcile the difficulties of writing a roman à clef?
I've just finished reading Saul Bellow's Humboldt's Gift and, in reading the reviews afterwards, discovered that it's a roman à clef (which has been defined as "a novel about real life, overlaid with ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
83
views
Can you claim postage as an expense in the US if it's for a non-paying market?
As a writer, there are many things that can be claimed as expenses if they help you to generate income (or try to generate income). Postage is one, but my question is specifically this: Can you claim ...
- 21.5k
6
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Do I need permission from people I am writing about if I am writing about a true story that was reported in the media?
I am writing a factual book, that will [hopefully] primarily detail real events that have happened in the past, that are related to the subject of the book.
The real events have all been reported in ...
-3
votes
1
answer
123
views
IRL companies roasted in fiction, what would happen? [duplicate]
So, It's now just out of plain curiosity, if I were to write:
During those times, selfish assholes ruled over a significant part of
Earth, the three most notorious of them was Google, the ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
892
views
How does public domain/copyright work across different countries?
What if I want to modify/sell a book that is copyrighted in my country, but is under public domain in X country? If I download a file containing the X country version, am I allowed to do this? If not, ...
- 3,837
0
votes
1
answer
934
views
Can I reference real companies in a novel? [duplicate]
I'm starting to work through some ideas with a book I want to write. The protagonist is computer science genius that finds flaws and breaks through the security of several major companies. I'm not ...
- 104k
4
votes
1
answer
195
views
Can you publish an ebook as an Editor of someone else's writing under a pen name/pseudonym?
I have a collection of short notes and letters from someone I knew (who gave me permission to publish or share the writings) and I'm thinking if I can self-publish them as an ebook as "Editor" under a ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
3
answers
362
views
How can I ban someone from publishing my work without my permission?
So I wrote this article on my own, and shared it between my friends via online, but I did not want anyone to use it for any monetary reasons, such as publishing it into a book and selling it. Is there ...
- 24.1k
3
votes
3
answers
184
views
How would I give the rights to my novel to my parents?
I'm wondering because due to reasons I will not disclose, I am not allowed to make any money. I was wondering if I could give the rights to my book to my parents so I could publish it, and they could ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Create and publish collection of public domain poems from 19th century
Can I create a collection of original 19th century public domain poems without violating copyright laws?
3
votes
1
answer
73
views
Confusing author guidelines
I am going to publish an article on this website.
I was going through author guidelines section and I found this piece of information:
By sharing any contribution you agree to grant 90min.in ...
- 104k
2
votes
3
answers
457
views
Copyright of examples used in books?
I'm getting into non-fiction technical writing (a blog, but potentially ebook or otherwise). Often the best technical advice come from dissecting and synthesising good and bad examples from the ...
- 9,406
1
vote
1
answer
125
views
Using direct references to Marvel without being sued [duplicate]
Can I make a low-key reference to a Marvel movie in my book without anyone noticing?
And if they do notice, can I get sued?
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
6
answers
3k
views
Use of real organization in fiction
I have just finished a mystery in which I have used the name of a real community organization. It's an organization that people either love or hate because it represents the upper echelon of society, ...
- 25.7k
2
votes
2
answers
398
views
Should I use a disclaimer in my novel?
I recently finished writing my first novel. Many of the characters resemble people in real life, and they are not always portrayed in a flattering manner. Should I put in a disclaimer that it is a ...
- 104k
2
votes
4
answers
486
views
Trademarked toys as an inspiration to a novel - should I contact the producer?
Sorry for any mistakes - I'm not a native English speaker.
I've started writing my first novel which I would like to attempt to publish. All of the characters are based on my animal toy collection, ...
- 13.5k
1
vote
3
answers
241
views
What exactly is "fair comment?"
From what I understand, truth is a defense against a charge of libel. More to the point, I've been told that a statement need not be true if it represents a "fair comment" based on the underlying ...
- 4,405
6
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Referencing real and fictional people/characters in novels - legal implications
I've been going out of my way to avoid referencing famous people in my novel as well as fictional characters, but I keep seeing pop culture references in other books I read as well as in TV shows, ...
- 1
2
votes
4
answers
208
views
DIT:Is it legal if a write a book about an artist?
An example is "Miley Cyrus transformation - a marketing approach"
I wont use their stuff inside.
No copyrighted material, for example, pictures
So for my previous example, i would write how miley ...
- 4,405
3
votes
3
answers
452
views
How far does libel extend in writing?
Suppose I wrote a book. Suppose it had a normal modern fictional story about it. Suppose that the characters aren't based on real people and have no relation to anyone. Suppose in the background of ...
- 5,309
6
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Is it illegal to imagine a real person for a fictional character?
There are times I meet someone for a brief time, maybe a couple hours, and their personality impresses me enough to create a fictional character about them. Obviously I am adding my own attributes to ...
- 266
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Legal issue of naming a character after a song character
Legally can you name characters after songs (poems, etc.) so long as those characters don't purport to affiliated w/ the song or the song writer/author?
A similar question here asks the opposite ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
206
views
Nintendo Based Copyright
I am writing a story for publication that has one of it's key features is these other worlds/universes being the basis of the videos games we see in real life. As such I was hoping to have 2 books in ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
771
views
Can I write reference books about a fictional universe from an existing franchise?
I want to write some reference books containing details about the fictional universe of some popular franchises, such as Tintin, or Star Trek. This would contain short plot summaries (1-paragraph in ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
4
answers
361
views
Can you use a company's name as title for a short story?
I'm writing a short story about a girl whose boyfriend is doing in internship in another city. She goes to visit him every week. But the guy always call at the last minute, saying he can't come and ...
- 1,346
3
votes
1
answer
76
views
How to head off a legal reading of a term or phrase?
I posted this over on the Eng Lang Stack, but they say it likely is more apropos here.
Terms like 'make whole', 'encumbered', etc have both non-financial/non-legal usages and financial/legal usages ...
CommunityBot
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
212
views
How to use creative commons materials?
Creative commons materials are popular on the web, and people are using these materials for creating new websites, as there is no severe copyright restriction.
How does creative commons copyright ...
- 2,032
1
vote
1
answer
267
views
Are there any legal restrictions on using the actual names of famous people in a historical novel?
I am writing a novel that contains spy elements. Although the plot is based in the near future, it alludes to recent past historical events. Specifically, it discusses the 1985 'Year of the Spy' and ...
- 28.3k
1
vote
2
answers
4k
views
Can I use a real secondary school for my book?
Although I have done a lot of research I still do not know if I can use a real secondary school in my book. Can I do this? Are there precautions I can take if I do? What are my options? Should I ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
99
views
'Out of print' not profitable or holding rights indefinitely by a Publisher?
Umm... The main cause the Publishers give more often than not is, the book was not successful to warrant a second run and hence it's out of print or 'it's just old'. I just read this question which ...
CommunityBot
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