LEGAL TOPICS - MEMBERS ONLY Archives - Nonfiction Authors Association

When it Comes to Permissions, Don’t Forget to Say “Please” by Denise Gibbon, Esq.

Guest Post — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 16:00:03 +0000

As a child, one of the first rules I learned was to precede a request with “please.” To my young mind, “please” had magical powers. Even if I didn’t get what I wanted, “please” usually elicited a polite albeit firm form of “no.” I still recall my shock when I first read Oliver Twist and […]

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How to Contractually Revert Your Rights (And What to Consider Before Doing So) by Joseph Perry

Guest Post — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:08:24 +0000

If you’re not happy with your publisher and you want to revert some or all of the rights to your book, what can you do? The first thing is to look is at your contract. Each contract is different, but sometimes the rights reversion language is located in an out-of-print clause or even a termination […]

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What is the Difference between Granting and Assigning Rights in Your Book Contract? by Joseph Perry

Guest Post — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 20:27:26 +0000

Nearly every time you receive a book contract, the first provision staring back at you will be the grant of rights clause. What exactly does it mean? Will you continue to own the rights to your book? Before we answer that, let’s take a step back and learn some basic information about copyright law that […]

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What Can You Trademark as an Author? by Joseph Perry

Guest Post — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:43:31 +0000

Have you ever wondered whether you could trademark your book or your brand? According to 15 USC 1127, “a trademark is any word, name, symbol, or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from those of another and to indicate the source of […]

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Tips on Avoiding Legal Issues When Writing Your Memoir by Joseph Perry

Guest Post — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 11:00:52 +0000

When you write your memoir, what do you need to be aware of so you don’t get sued? There are several legal concepts, but let’s focus on three: defamation, invasion of privacy, and the right of publicity. Read below for some basic information. Defamation Defamation is a tort, which comes in two forms: libel and […]

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Tips on Using Song Lyrics in Books by Joseph Perry

Guest Post — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 16:16:50 +0000

You’ve probably come across lyrics that would be perfect for your book. But can you use them? Song lyrics are protected by copyright law, and music publishers are notorious for protecting their songs. With that in mind, there are a few things you can do to potentially mitigate a publisher instituting a copyright infringement lawsuit […]

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Which Audiobook Contract is Right for Nonfiction Authors? (Part One) by Nathan Agin

Guest Post — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 15:00:49 +0000

Nathan has provided an audio recording of this article, click here to download or listen! You’ve finished your book, and you’re a smart, savvy author who wants to take advantage of the exploding audiobook market — great idea! Now while many nonfiction authors consider narrating their own book, working with a professional narrator can often […]

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Fair Use – When Can I Use Third-Party Text? by Joseph Perry

Guest Post — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 12:00:37 +0000

If you have written or are writing a nonfiction book, you likely have come across text belonging to a third party and have asked yourself: “Can I use it?” If you obtain permission from the third party to use the text (or if it’s in the public domain), then of course you can use it. […]

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Sample Permissions Letter

Stephanie Chandler — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 12:00:05 +0000

For use when requesting permission to include another person’s work in your book. As with all legal documents, be sure to have this approved by your attorney before use. Dear [name], As we have previously discussed, I am preparing to have my book published and it is tentatively titled [title]. It is scheduled to be […]

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