Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [legal]

General legal questions. There are also separate tags for "copyright" and "creative commons". Make sure to specify the relevant jurisdiction.

329 questions
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Legalities about fictionalizing current events?

What are the legalities of taking something currently in the news and writing a story/novel/movie (but not a documentary/biography) about it? Take Snowden, for example. Someone went and made a movie (I haven't seen it - apparently it's awful). Do…
ggambetta
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Can I write reference books about a fictional universe from an existing franchise?

I want to write some reference books containing details about the fictional universe of some popular franchises, such as Tintin, or Star Trek. This would contain short plot summaries (1-paragraph in length) and various details about the setting and…
Village
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Can I quote dictionary definitions without permission/attribution in a fiction novel?

In the fiction novel I’m writing, the MC often searches a dictionary for the definition of a certain word, then recites the result in narration or in dialogue. For example, I took out my phone. He shuffled closer and we squinted at my screen in…
sudowoodo
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Are deity/god names protected by copyright or trademark?

If yes does this apply to historical deities/gods or only to fictional ones?
user57758
5
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What are the legal implications and best practices for publishing screenshots of web sites in a book?

I want to publish screenshots of web sites in a book and provide a critique of each screenshot. Many of the screenshots would be cropped to just show a section of a page. Adobe has published these guidelines…
Gilbert
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What steps can be taken to avoid libel / copyright issues in social commentary?

I'm interested in the social, cultural, and political landscape around me, and I think I've "got a book in me" on the topic. A major source of material would be the writings of everyday people in places like Tweets and letters to the editor. Q: Is…
pterandon
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Releases needed for picture books?

Do you need location releases for national parks and model releases for Pets to use in picture books?
Annie
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Can I use the brand name of a drug?

More specifically I want to mention the drug Dexedrine, however, if that can lead to legal problems, I could simply describe it as an Amphetamine prescription.
Peixoto
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How would I give the rights to my novel to my parents?

I'm wondering because due to reasons I will not disclose, I am not allowed to make any money. I was wondering if I could give the rights to my book to my parents so I could publish it, and they could make the money instead?
AneiDoru
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How to head off a legal reading of a term or phrase?

I posted this over on the Eng Lang Stack, but they say it likely is more apropos here. Terms like 'make whole', 'encumbered', etc have both non-financial/non-legal usages and financial/legal usages and, in some cases, explicit financial/legal…
Mike
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Can I use a real college in my fiction book?

So for the novel I'm writing, the main character is a college student living in Michigan. Is it okay for me to have her go to a college that really is in Michigan? I wouldn't be displaying it in a bad light, or anything like that, I'd just be…
Anna K
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Where's the line between coincidental similarity between a character and a person, vs. being uniquely identifiable?

I'm trying to understand the verdict in Red Hat Club case. Vicki Stewart sued author Haywood Smith, claiming that a character in Smith's books was defamatory - that the character was clearly based on Stewart, and portrayed as a sexually promiscuous…
Tom Au
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Collaborating with Stephen King, but not the original

My name is Richard Devine and I am currently working on a collaboration with Stephen King, (obviously NOT the original author himself). We currently act under the pseudo name 'KD Novels' (King/Devine). We don't want to print his name on the cover as…
KD Novels
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Publishing other peoples anecdotes

I have asked friend and relations a question and want to publish the answers with their name by the answer. If I ask them if they mind it being publishes is that enough?
Lizzie Hibbert
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Note taking from a textbook and publishing the notes online

I'm reading a physics textbook now and taking personal notes as I read. I'd like to put my own personal notes online for free so that other members of my lab group can refer to them easily. How can I avoid legal and moral plagiarism? The equations…
well
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