I have published a book with the title "Social Kissing Gifts and Bribes - how to get on with people worldwide". I now want to replish it with a different title - "Teach Yourself Business Etiquette - how to get on with people worldwide". Can I use the term "Teach Yourself ..." or is this term copyright?
Many thanks for your most helpful and useful comments. I shall be following-up the expression "Getting on".
As an alternative to 'teach yourself' how about 'getting on' ?
As in 'Getting on with people worldwide.'
Unless that phrase turns out to be owned by Hachette, too.
Is it just me or is there just something fundamentally wrong with a huge company being allowed to trademark a phrase which was in use (potentially) before the printing press was invented, let alone before trademark laws started?
The Teach Yourself name is a registered trademark of Hachette UK. You would be in infringement of their rights to produce a book with the title Teach Yourself Business Etiquette. You could also come up against the website, http://www.growglobal.com/grow-global-resources/teach-yourself-business-language-courses/
I'd look for another name.