Tricks and Traps of Using Real People in Your Writing, Part 1: The Right of Publicity by Helen Sedwick explains if and when writers can model characters after real people and name names without getting sued.
Legal Issues
Sample Copyright Pages [Two Free Templates for Your Book]
So why exactly do you need a sample copyright page? One of the most common questions I get from new self-publishers is, “What do I put on the copyright page?” For some reason, the copyright page has the power to intimidate some people, with its small print and legalistic language, not to mention all those […]
Book Disclaimers: Everything You Need to Know
Many authors assume the legal disclaimers for their books are supposed to be boring, but the law does not require a disclaimer to be boring. Many writers have a lot of fun with their disclaimers. Here’s some examples.
Knowing Right and Wrong — Fun with Copyright
Who owns the copyright to a book that’s been uploaded to Amazon’s KDP? It’s important to understand the difference between copyright and a license.
Print Pricing Piracy: The Perils of Free Trade
Is it print pricing piracy or merely free trade if someone is offering your print book at a price lower or above your set price?
How to Legally Use Quotations in Your Book
A book or website that relies almost entirely on using quotations written by others can be done, but not without doing a lot of homework.
Are There Pirates in Your Book’s Midst?
Are there pirates in your book’s midst? Has your book walked the infringement plank? Here are steps to take to protect you and your book.
Using Family Photos, Letters and Stories
What are the legal implications of using family photos, letters and stories? Here’s what you need to consider.
Avast! Piracy and the Self-Publisher
There are sites and apps that indulge in piracy and “share” intellectual property illegally. So what does this mean to the self-publisher?
Monday Mailbag: ISBNs, Barcodes, Copyright, Book Design and more
Questions never stop their inexorable creep, like the ivy in my yard. The more you answer, the more you get asked. Does that really make sense? Here’s the latest installment of some select “Q&A” happening around here. Reaching into the mailbags that line the hallways at Marin Bookworks Global Headquarters, I’ve sampled and collected some […]
