Archive for the ‘ Copyright ’ Category


What do Shakespeare and Jane Austen have in common?

Their works have spawned countless remakes and retellings. Stately manor houses have been transformed into zombies hideouts. Characters have been transported to New York tenements. Star Trek’s Klingons recite Hamlet’s soliloquies. And since Shakespeare and Austen’s works are in the… Read the rest

How to Get Permission to Use Images Without Paying a Fortune or a Lawyer

You have probably heard the old joke, What do you call 1000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start. Okay, that’s unfair (unless, of course, I get to choose which lawyers), but I do think there are… Read the rest

The Surprising Controversy about DRM

On bridges spanning the Seine in Paris and the canals of Venice, lovers place padlocks engraved with their names and throw away the keys. These colorful love locks create a touching testament to the promise of an unbreakable bond. Don’t Read the rest

Questions About Copyright, Pen Names, and 1099s

Today, I am going to answer questions posted by readers through emails, my website, and even Amazon reviews. I appreciated when readers take the time to ask questions. It helps me know what’s on your minds. QUESTION: Oh no. I Read the rest

Beware of Contests Offering Publishing Contracts

Even though words are our stock-and-trade, many writers are intimidated by contract wording. The pages look fuzzy and convoluted, like  some math-test nightmare from high school. Writers assume they won’t understand the contracts, so they close their eyes and click… Read the rest

Creative Commons: A Blogger’s Gold Mine

Creative Commons is one of the best innovations to grow out of global interconnectivity. Under copyright law, rights to use copyrighted materials are granted on a one-by-one basis. Traditional copyright law does not provide a practical way to permit wide-ranging… Read the rest

Stock Images; A Little Money Goes A Long Way

EUREKA! After searching the four corners of the internet, you have found the image that captures the essence of your story. You want to use it on your cover, website, bookmarks, ball caps, t-shirts and coffee mugs. And perhaps you… Read the rest

What’s the Worst Mistake an Author Can Make?

What is the worst mistake a self-publishing author could make? A bad book cover? No. A poorly edited manuscript? No. A hokey website? No. It’s losing his or her copyright. Your copyrighted work is valuable property, just like your car… Read the rest

Fan Fiction; Fifty Shades of Green

Scholars, critics and mainstream publishers look down their noses at fan fiction and consider it unoriginal, non-commercial, and a joke. But E. L. James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey, is laughing all the way to the bank. Her trilogy,… Read the rest

Is it Public Domain or isn’t it?

True or False: If an image, poem, essay or short story is posted on the internet, it’s in the public domain and anyone can use it. False, but so many people seem to forget that, especially with images. What works Read the rest

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