Epigraphs and copyright

Janine

Hi. I'd like to use an epigraph to start each of my novel's chapters, variously from contemporary poets, poets from the past, contemporary music, and music of the past. What copyright issues does this pose? If I were American, I could claim fair use, but I don't think we have that over here.

Phots Moll

We do have 'fair use' in the uk - https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p09_fair_use

You can only claim it's fair use if it actually is - it's not a licence to use quotes however you like.

Carol

You'd need to contact the copyright holder of each item, and be prepared to pay.

Depending on who the contemporary music is by, you might need to pay quite a bit- hundreds in some cases.

Janine

Carol: Ah, dear me. Goodbye, Sufjan, David, and Leonard! You shall be missed.