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thanks, Webbo, subscribing for support for TB and TBers more than fir their usefulness, though, as I said earlier ...
and I don't need to look for a publisher!
I was certainly surprised about the 'fair trading' bit, Jay, as it was my understanding that you had to be exceptionally careful with song lyrics and could be charged an immense amount for even quoting a few words. I certainly don't see how it could be classed as coming under the comment/review rules either if you were using them in a book as described.
Song titles are fine, though.
Since the matter of rights is essentially a legal one, what is and isn't allowed is up for interpretation. Titles are absolutely okay.
In terms of content, it hinges on your definition of "fair dealing" and "substantial part". For lyrics, as with any copywritten words, quoting is okay as long as what you use does not constitute a "substantial part" of the original work (there is also some consideration of the relative value of your chosen quotation's content to the original work as a whole). For longer quotes, you can still claim it is fair dealing in certain circumstances (but most likely not fiction, as Heather suggests).
However, these elements (substantial; quality; fair dealing) are not explicitly defined in law. The Society of Authors notes that on one occasion, using four lines of a 32-line poem was viewed as an infringement (so if we take that as one limit of the proportions, a single line ought to be okay...). The same rules apply to lyrics as any other text, but the music industry is notoriously litigious, and its lawyers would almost certainly disagree.
There's some more from the Society of Authors here: http://www.societyofauthors.org/sites/default/files/Quick%20Guide%20to%20Copyright%20and%20Moral%20Rights%2009_1.pdf , but if you were serious about using this sort of thing in print, it would be something to explore in more depth with your publisher
[edit to add=] as Diana said in the article, attribution is probably wise too!
Writing Magazine, page 28 - says "either of the above volumes", but mentions only the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook. Should The Writer's Handbook have had a mention? And what about giving a plug to Editors & Preditors (or whatever they're called)?
Writing Magazine, page 7 - apparently Andrew Motion said that "no one was writing much about sex any more". Perhaps I should send him a copy of my book, "All About Sex". Although I have to admit it's more romantic than raunchy.
[quote=Jay Mandal]Should The Writer's Handbook have had a mention? And what about giving a plug to Editors & Preditors (or whatever they're called)?[/quote]
At a late stage I took out Jane's reference to the Writer's Handbook as it is not quite as clear in helping to sort mainstream publishers from others - eg Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie listed straight after Pearson Educational!
Comments
Edited to correct my spelling...
and I don't need to look for a publisher!
Song titles are fine, though.
In terms of content, it hinges on your definition of "fair dealing" and "substantial part". For lyrics, as with any copywritten words, quoting is okay as long as what you use does not constitute a "substantial part" of the original work (there is also some consideration of the relative value of your chosen quotation's content to the original work as a whole). For longer quotes, you can still claim it is fair dealing in certain circumstances (but most likely not fiction, as Heather suggests).
However, these elements (substantial; quality; fair dealing) are not explicitly defined in law. The Society of Authors notes that on one occasion, using four lines of a 32-line poem was viewed as an infringement (so if we take that as one limit of the proportions, a single line ought to be okay...). The same rules apply to lyrics as any other text, but the music industry is notoriously litigious, and its lawyers would almost certainly disagree.
There's some more from the Society of Authors here: http://www.societyofauthors.org/sites/default/files/Quick%20Guide%20to%20Copyright%20and%20Moral%20Rights%2009_1.pdf , but if you were serious about using this sort of thing in print, it would be something to explore in more depth with your publisher
[edit to add=] as Diana said in the article, attribution is probably wise too!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/01/blake-morrison-lyrics-copyright
At a late stage I took out Jane's reference to the Writer's Handbook as it is not quite as clear in helping to sort mainstream publishers from others - eg Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie listed straight after Pearson Educational!