Discussion:
What is the name of your state?Wisconsin. I am writing a book for profit. I wish to use various quotes/sayings/anecdotes that I have accumulated through my life. Some have the quoters name, and some do not. Some I have seen on bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts, heard at a seminar, on a radio, from other people, etc. The copyright office brochure says titles, names, short phrases and slogans are not protected by copyright. If I saw some quotes in a book from the library, can I use them? If I saw a quote in a book that I like, can I use it? How can I possibly know if a quote on a hat or bumper sticker is copyrighted? The quote could be in some old book somewhere, and how can I know just where ALL quotes/saying I have heard over the last 50 years are listed to avoid getting my hands slapped? Thanx loads- Ron
Answer:
What is the name of your state?Wisconsin. I am writing a book for profit. I wish to use various quotes/sayings/anecdotes that I have accumulated through my life. Some have the quoters name, and some do not. Some I have seen on bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts, heard at a seminar, on a radio, from other people, etc. The copyright office brochure says titles, names, short phrases and slogans are not protected by copyright. If I saw some quotes in a book from the library, can I use them? If I saw a quote in a book that I like, can I use it? How can I possibly know if a quote on a hat or bumper sticker is copyrighted? The quote could be in some old book somewhere, and how can I know just where ALL quotes/saying I have heard over the last 50 years are listed to avoid getting my hands slapped? Thanx loads- Ron If you want to use a copyrighted quoation in a book such as you describe, you will have to get permission of the copyright holders.
That's my educated guess.
Answer:
What is the name of your state?Wisconsin. I am writing a book for profit. I wish to use various quotes/sayings/anecdotes that I have accumulated through my life. Some have the quoters name, and some do not. Some I have seen on bumper stickers, hats, t-shirts, heard at a seminar, on a radio, from other people, etc. The copyright office brochure says titles, names, short phrases and slogans are not protected by copyright. If I saw some quotes in a book from the library, can I use them? If I saw a quote in a book that I like, can I use it? How can I possibly know if a quote on a hat or bumper sticker is copyrighted? The quote could be in some old book somewhere, and how can I know just where ALL quotes/saying I have heard over the last 50 years are listed to avoid getting my hands slapped? Thanx loads- Ron Unless a quote/saying/anecdote is covered by a trademark, then you are free to use the quote, etc. As you correctly note, short phrases cannot be copyrighted, so there is no danger of copyright infringement with a short phrase or quote. You can check to see if a particular phrase is covered by a registered trademark by searching here: however, just because no registration is found does NOT mean that someone will not try and assert trademark rights in a particular phrase.
However, if a particular phrase is not used to identify a company, product or service, it is highyl unlikely to have any trademark protections associated with it, and would be free for you (or anyone else) to use, commercial or not.
Answer:
Thanx much for the reponse:-)) I will do some more searching. Ron