Tag: copyright laws

Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Questions Self Publishing Authors Ask: Parts of My Book are True, Can It Still Be Fiction?

Throughout the month of July I will be discussing topics that often come up for self publishing authors.  Without an experienced agent, you may have found that it’s tough to find the answers to your questions about rights and permissions.  These posts are designed to help answer some of the questions you may have and will direct you to other sites where you can get more information on each topic.  Come back each Wednesday this month for more informational posts to help you in your self publishing journey.  If you have additional questions, please send us a comment and we’ll add it to our list of topics to cover in the coming weeks.

This week I will address the question: Can my book be fiction if parts of it are true? Sometimes authors aren’t sure which genre their book belongs in. Some writers loosely base their books on their life but add details to make the plot or characters more interesting. Other writers write about their personal life experiences and only change character names. Here is what you need to know when deciding whether your book should be fiction or nonfiction.

  • Changing the names in a memoir does not necessarily protect you from a lawsuit if the characters are recognizable as real people.
  • If you are labeling your book as a memoir but names have been changed, be sure to disclose this.
  • If the book is not as truthful as possible, it is not a memoir. It is a novel. This means if you’ve added details such as extra characters or another plot line, it is fiction.
  • If you write a book that is inspired by your life events and you want readers to know these events really happened, label the book as fiction and note in your author’s biography that the book is inspired by real events.
  • If you are writing a biography, it is essential to verify all facts for accuracy. If you aren’t certain the story is truthful, let the person be your inspiration for a novel.

To learn more about whether to label your book as fiction or nonfiction, check out these two great posts:

The Line Between Fact and Fiction

Fiction Or Nonfiction? Memoir Or Novel? Know What To Call Your Story Or Book

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Questions Self Publishing Authors Ask: Non-Fiction Book Considered Libelous

Throughout the month of July I will be discussing topics that often come up for self publishing authors.  Without an experienced agent, you may have found that it’s tough to find the answers to your questions about rights and permissions.  These posts are designed to help answer some of the questions you may have and will direct you to other sites where you can get more information on each topic.  Come back each Wednesday this month for more informational posts to help you in your self publishing journey.  If you have additional questions, please send us a comment and we’ll add it to our list of topics to cover in the coming weeks.

This week I will address the question: Could my non-fiction book be considered libelous?  Many self publishing authors aren’t sure what libel is and how to avoid legal trouble. Here are some helpful things for you to know.

  • Libel can be against people or products.
  • Libelous statements are published statements that are false and damaging.
  • For someone to have a case against you, the statement must be three things: untrue, damaging, and knowingly false.
  • Plaintiffs must have evidence to prove that the libel statement caused them harm.
  • Public officials and public figures must also prove malice.
  • An excellent source on the topic of libel is the “Briefing on Media Law” portion of The Associated Press Stylebook.
  • When writing non-fiction, only write the truth. Otherwise, write fiction.
  • Keep records of your research in case you ever need to prove that a statement is true.

To learn more about libel, check out this great post: http://www.writing-world.com/rights/libel.shtml.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Questions Self Publishing Authors Ask: Images from the Internet

Throughout the month of July I will be discussing topics that often come up for self publishing authors.  Without an experienced agent, you may have found that it’s tough to find the answers to your questions about rights and permissions.  These posts are designed to help answer some of the questions you may have and will direct you to other sites where you can get more information on each topic.  Come back each Wednesday this month for more informational posts to help you in your self publishing journey.  If you have additional questions, please send us a comment and we’ll add it to our list of topics to cover in the coming weeks.

This week I will address the issue of using images you found on the internet in your book. Many self publishing authors aren’t sure what they need to do in order to protect themselves from copyright laws when it comes to using images from the internet. If you want to use images from the internet in your book, there are a few things you should know.

  • Most images are protected by copyright laws and permission is required to use them.
  • Fair Use depends on the individual circumstance. Always be sure you meet all of the requirements. Otherwise, you need permission.
  • Images you find on the internet are subject to the same copyright laws as any other image you may want to use in your book.

To learn more about legally using images, check out this great post: http://www.copyrightlaws.com/us/legally-using-images/

 

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Uncategorized

Questions Self Publishing Authors Ask: Song Lyrics

Throughout the month of July I will be discussing topics that often come up for self publishing authors.  Without an experienced agent, you may have found that it’s tough to find the answers to your questions about rights and permissions.  These posts are designed to help answer some of the questions you may have and will direct you to other sites where you can get more information on each topic.  Come back each Wednesday this month for more informational posts to help you in your self publishing journey.  If you have additional questions, please send us a comment and we’ll add it to our list of topics to cover in the coming weeks.

This week I will address the issue of using song lyrics in your book. Many self publishing authors aren’t sure what they need to do in order to protect themselves from copyright laws when it comes to using song lyrics. If you want to use song lyrics in your book, there are a few things you should know.

  • The Fair Use rule doesn’t apply to song lyrics.
  • You can use song titles without permission because titles can’t be copyrighted.
  • You can use song lyrics that are in the public domain.
  • If you want to use copyrighted lyrics, you have to get permission and pay, and it can be costly.
  • You will need permission and have to pay to use recorded music in your book trailer.

If you still want to use song lyrics in your book, you can obtain the rights in five easy steps. To learn how, check out this article: http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2013/03/so-you-want-to-use-song-lyrics-in-your.html.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.
Kelly Speaks, Self-Publishing Week in Review

Self Publishing Week in Review: 1/1/13

As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self publishing industry. This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self publishing process, which will lead to a greater self publishing experience. To help you stay current on self publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Tuesday to find out the hottest news in self publishing this week.

Young Fantasy Authors Enter World of Self-Publishing With Nimpentoad

This article tells the story of a dad who writes and self publishes a book with his two sons, five and seven years old. The children help the author with the characters, plot line, and overall look and feel of the book. The result is a fantasy chapter book for young readers called Nimpentoad. The book is well-reviewed and the boys have been featured at various speaking events and in  Young Entrepreneur Magazine. It is truly a fascinating and inspiring story.

Legal Issues in Self-Publishing: What Authors Need to Know

As a self publishing author, it is important that you are aware of the legal issues associated with the publishing industry, and you should always seek professional guidance for any legal issue that you need assistance with. This interview discusses the legal issues that self publishing authors should be aware of, such as copyright laws.

And Then What Happened? More of  My Self-Publishing Diaries

Author Julie Gerstenblatt talks about the self-publishing process and preparing her manuscript for publication. My favorite part of the story is about her husband designing the cover of her book. He was originally disappointed when he was told he couldn’t do the cover if her book was picked up by a traditional publishing company, but the couple loves the freedom to use their artistic skills and work together when Gerstenblatt decides to self publish.

If you have other big news to share, please comment below.

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.