is it legal to mention a song and artist in a story, or do you need permission?
Replies
I checked on copyright a while ago and it's ok to say something like 'Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone' was playing' but not to actually quote the lyrics directly. Though Penn Gillette quoted a mass of lyrics in 'Sock'. Don't know how he could have afforded to pay rights for all the songs he used - must've cost more than he raised from the book.
The main issue is when you consider having your book/story turned into a film or TV show. Because playing the music costs a huge amount and it would need to be removed probably before anyone would take it up.
Song titles and lyrics - even a line from a lyric - are subject to copyright. I'm almost certain (!) that an artist's name is not. Whether or not you need copyright permission depends on what you want to do with it. Something that's for your own personal consumption, definitely not. Something that's going to be published and sold in Waterstones, definitely. The in-between is the greyer area but, probably, anything that counts as published within the public domain - so print or web-based - strictly speaking demands you seek permission.
I checked on copyright a while ago and it's ok to say something like 'Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone' was playing' but not to actually quote the lyrics directly. Though Penn Gillette quoted a mass of lyrics in 'Sock'. Don't know how he could have afforded to pay rights for all the songs he used - must've cost more than he raised from the book.
The main issue is when you consider having your book/story turned into a film or TV show. Because playing the music costs a huge amount and it would need to be removed probably before anyone would take it up.
Song titles and lyrics - even a line from a lyric - are subject to copyright. I'm almost certain (!) that an artist's name is not. Whether or not you need copyright permission depends on what you want to do with it. Something that's for your own personal consumption, definitely not. Something that's going to be published and sold in Waterstones, definitely. The in-between is the greyer area but, probably, anything that counts as published within the public domain - so print or web-based - strictly speaking demands you seek permission.