Comments on: What Every Writer Ought to Know about Fair Use and Copyright http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/02/what-every-writer-ought-to-know-about-fair-use-and-copyright/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-every-writer-ought-to-know-about-fair-use-and-copyright Practical Advice to Help Self-Publishers Build Better Books Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:27:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Douglas Bonneville http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/02/what-every-writer-ought-to-know-about-fair-use-and-copyright/#comment-19217 Douglas Bonneville Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:33:02 +0000 http://www.thebookdesigner.com/?p=4214#comment-19217 I have a good question: Do you need to get permission, say from Google or Apple, to use the word "Google" or "Apple" as the title of a book if you are not using their logo? I found this paragraphy at Google.com regarding trademark and it seems that you don't need to get their permission. Say you want to write a book on "SEO and Google(tm)": "Regarding cover art, you cannot use the Google logo (or the name ‘Google’ using our typeface) on the cover of a publicly-available book or publication without our permission." That's all it says, and conveniently, there is no contact information given. Thoughts? I have a good question: Do you need to get permission, say from Google or Apple, to use the word “Google” or “Apple” as the title of a book if you are not using their logo?

I found this paragraphy at Google.com regarding trademark and it seems that you don’t need to get their permission. Say you want to write a book on “SEO and Google(tm)”:

“Regarding cover art, you cannot use the Google logo (or the name ‘Google’ using our typeface) on the cover of a publicly-available book or publication without our permission.”

That’s all it says, and conveniently, there is no contact information given.

Thoughts?

]]> By: David Amkraut http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/02/what-every-writer-ought-to-know-about-fair-use-and-copyright/#comment-19009 David Amkraut Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:12:30 +0000 http://www.thebookdesigner.com/?p=4214#comment-19009 Re: Percy's question. Quotations from Confucius, Marcus Aurelius would not be within copyright in the original language. In theory, there could be copyrightable creativity in the translation into English, but as long as these are short quotations, I don't think anyone would care or try to claim infringement. Yiddish proverbs are--- well, folk wit and wisdom. It's impossible to know who originally said them or wrote them down, and it was likely so long ago that copyright would be elapsed by now. If translated into English, same comment as for M.A. and Confucius. Eisenhower: short passages are probably no problem, especially if you are commenting on them (fair use and all that). Long passages--- in theory could be a problem, in practice probably not, but it is really case-specific and I would not venture a guess unless I actually saw the passage and knew where and when it appeared and if anyone claims copyright. Still, unless the Eisenhower quotations are big chunks, it sounds unlikely that anyone would bother Percy over the use. That is not a legal statement but a practical, business one. There were similar questions asked in this thread earlier about compiling short quotations, and Percy and others who are interested might look at my response to that, also. I hope this is helpful, and Happy New Year to all. Re: Percy’s question. Quotations from Confucius, Marcus Aurelius would not be within copyright in the original language. In theory, there could be copyrightable creativity in the translation into English, but as long as these are short quotations, I don’t think anyone would care or try to claim infringement.

Yiddish proverbs are— well, folk wit and wisdom. It’s impossible to know who originally said them or wrote them down, and it was likely so long ago that copyright would be elapsed by now. If translated into English, same comment as for M.A. and Confucius.

Eisenhower: short passages are probably no problem, especially if you are commenting on them (fair use and all that). Long passages— in theory could be a problem, in practice probably not, but it is really case-specific and I would not venture a guess unless I actually saw the passage and knew where and when it appeared and if anyone claims copyright.

Still, unless the Eisenhower quotations are big chunks, it sounds unlikely that anyone would bother Percy over the use. That is not a legal statement but a practical, business one.

There were similar questions asked in this thread earlier about compiling short quotations, and Percy and others who are interested might look at my response to that, also.

I hope this is helpful, and Happy New Year to all.

]]> By: Percy Cannon http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2010/02/what-every-writer-ought-to-know-about-fair-use-and-copyright/#comment-19006 Percy Cannon Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:08:57 +0000 http://www.thebookdesigner.com/?p=4214#comment-19006 Thanks Joel for getting David to write the article and answer the several related questions. In my book I have quotes attributed to Ike Eisenhower, Confucius, Yiddish Proverb, Marcus Aurelius and Einstein. My sources have been different websites and newspaper articles. Is it safe to assume that those quotes don't require any permissions? Sorry if I missed a similar question raised before.... Thanks! Percy Thanks Joel for getting David to write the article and answer the several related questions.
In my book I have quotes attributed to Ike Eisenhower, Confucius, Yiddish Proverb, Marcus Aurelius and Einstein. My sources have been different websites and newspaper articles. Is it safe to assume that those quotes don’t require any permissions? Sorry if I missed a similar question raised before….
Thanks!
Percy

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