quotes permissions - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

karfur2 · 09-19-2006, 08:28 PM

Hi

I wrote a book that has many quotes so I am in the process of asking for permissions to use them. I have to ask permissions to use several quotes from a movie. The movie was transcribed by someone into a book, but I imagine I have to ask permissions from the creators of the movie. Do you agree?
Also I took quotes from the internet. Do you know if it is necessary to ask for permissions to use quotes from the internet?

Thanks!

FrankBlissett · 09-19-2006, 10:14 PM

Yes.

Yes.

Or, more specificly, you have to ask whoever owns the rights. If by "internet", you're talking about blogs and comments on forums then you need to go to the source. If it's a site that compiles quotes, lyrics, eBooks etc then you need to go to whoever originally wrote the quote.

Can you give some examples of who's quotes you used and what context?

-Frank

mammamaia · 09-20-2006, 11:15 AM

it's necessary to get permission to use quotes from any copyrighted source that can be identified... as frank notes, you have to trace any compilation entries, blogs, etc., back to the original writers...

as for movies, the "creators'" permission isn't what you need, because the original screenwriter/s will no longer own the copyright, having sold the property to the film's producers... so, you'll have to find out which producer [most movie credits list many permutations of same] currenly owns the rights... however, your chances of being granted such permission for free, are slim to nil...

you should look into the fine print of the us copyright laws to see what/how much can be quoted with proper attribution, without getting a release... here's where:

www.copyright.gov

karfur2 · 09-20-2006, 02:27 PM

I took quotes from books about successful people (example: Oprah). However, I had to ask the book publishers (example: random house) for permissions and not directly to these successful people. So in the case of a web site that includes quotes from several successful people (http://www.achievement.org/), who do you think I have to contact?
Thanks!

mammamaia · 09-21-2006, 11:25 AM

the people who wrote/uttered the words, of course... the only time you'd have to ask the website for permission, is if the quote is from an interview that the website conducted and therefore 'owns'...

if the site's merely an assemblage of various quotes from other sources, you have to go to those sources... however, if a quote is a well-known, much-repeated one, you may be able to use it without getting formal permission, as long as you cite the source properly...

for info on those exceptions, you need to check the loc site i linked for you above... but, for anything that's not clearly laid out there, you need to consult a literary attorney, not anyone here... and that includes me!

love and hugs, maia