Questions tagged [legal]
General legal questions. There are also separate tags for "copyright" and "creative commons". Make sure to specify the relevant jurisdiction.
331
questions
1
vote
1
answer
131
views
Is it legal or illegal to print your fanfiction story into a physical book even if it's just for yourself only and not for profit?
I keep hearing all sorts of answers online about printing your fanfiction story into a physical book. Either it's okay or not okay to do as it is illegal and can break copyright. I can accept that it ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
90
views
Is it legal to print out a book in a different language?
Theoretically, let's say I have a friend who speaks in a foreign language and cannot understand English very well. That friend wants to read a popular English book, but they can't read it because they ...
user64012
3
votes
1
answer
110
views
An acknowledgements section thanking people you don't know
Acknowledgements sections that thank people you don't know and from whom you haven't asked permission are rare.
What are the pros and cons of including such thanks?
I suspect one of the reasons they'...
- 133
1
vote
2
answers
147
views
Will I be sued if I write about something that bears superficial resemblance to a real-world disaster, even when I add a disclaimer?
I am writing a story (actually a fanfiction) which I am serializing on Archive of Our Own, a popular site for that type of written works.
Actually I planned out the entire plot for that story since ...
2
votes
2
answers
59
views
Writing a short story set in a real museum - how much can I include?
I have written a short story set in a museum in Ireland. It is a private museum that contains various displays and sculptures. I am happy with the story and would like to submit it to a few journals/...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
131
views
Am I legally allowed to expand someone else's short story into a novel?
For years I told a short story in my kindergarten classroom. It was written and freely shared by the writer. I rewrote the short story (2-3 pages) into a middle grade chapter book, expanding the plot, ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
311
views
"Such" vs. "Said" vs. "The"
I'm a transactional attorney, but recently I've received some criticisms for my usage of the word "such" in lieu of "said" or "the" or "aforesaid" or similar ...
0
votes
0
answers
93
views
It is legal to recreate Camp Half-Blood in my own writing? [duplicate]
"Camp Half-Blood" is the name of a location in a book series of the same name from the author Rick Riordan. It is legal to recreate this location in my own writing, even if the original ...
user60583
1
vote
2
answers
929
views
Is it okay if I use a historical figure's name for a work of fiction completely unrelated to history?
I was planning at some point to write a mystery fiction unrelated to history. I was inspired by writers who used literary figures as a name for their characters, yet the plot was completely unrelated ...
- 11
-1
votes
1
answer
83
views
I may publish a true crime non-fiction book... who is legally responsible of the accussations? Author or publisher?
I run a small imprint about a niche topic (in fact, I use POD services, so it may not be considered an actual imprint/publisher), but I was approached by an author who is writing a book about an ...
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
112
views
Seeking advice on safeguarding my manuscript
I'm an Australian writer who is contemplating sending my manuscript to a novel editor in America. I'm concerned about the possibility of my work being claimed by someone else. Given my limited ...
- 495
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
Can I publish a collection of poetry that alludes to other authors such as Shakespeare and Wordsworth without violating copyright?
I am a teacher. My students want to self publish their work as a collection of poetry and short stories.
Some of their assignments were to allude to other works and authors—like Wordsworth or ...
- 3
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Can I use more specific monsters and creatures legally?
To be specific, metallic or chromatic dragons for an example. I know mindflayers and beholders and such are way off the list. But is the concept of dragons in distinct categories like this too similar ...
- 61
2
votes
3
answers
175
views
Recreating public domain children's stories and using the original illustration?
Personally, I love old children's books. The artwork is phenomenal. Recently I saw more than one person selling Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. I do not intend to take public domain stories from one ...
- 53
0
votes
1
answer
94
views
Copyright question?
Can I use the phrases "what do you see?" and "I see--" that is used in Brown Bear, Brown Bear in a children’s book, or are those phrases copyrighted? My book is about Halloween ...
