Legal Resources for Creatives
© Cheryl Pilgrim
Welcome to our new page with links to the legal resources including intellectual property, legal and tax information, understanding a publishing contract, children's privacy online, and more. These links do not constitute legal advice--they are provided as a starting point for research.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Copyrights
11 Things Every Writer Should Know About Copyrights
Is it Fair Use? 7 Questions to Ask Before Using Copyrighted Material
What Every Writer Ought to Know About Fair Use and Copyright
Copyright Tips and Tidbits; How and When to Register, How to Format Your Notice, and What Not to Do
6 Questions Writers Ask About Copyright and the Law
Authors: Keep Your Copyrights, You Earned Them
A Great List of Links about Copyright Law for Creatives
How to Reference Pop Culture in Your Fiction A Writer's Guide to Fair Use and Permissions + Sample Permissions Letter How to Get Permission to Use Song Lyrics in Your Book Author's Permissions Guidelines Photo Copyright and Research for Students and Writers The Copyright Claims Board: A New Option for Copyright Disputes
Can You Copyright a Character or Book Title? How about Trademarking?
Public Domain
Say you want to refer to a fairy tale or use the words of a nursery rhyme. Some resources on how to figure out if a work is in the public domain.
How to Determine if a Work is in the Public Domain
U.S. Copyright Office - online searchable database
Expiration of Works in the Public Domain
How Can I Tell if a Copyright Was Renewed?
How Romeo and Juliet Can Help You Write Your Next Book (using works in the public domain)
How to Use Lyrics without Paying a Fortune or a Lawyer
Privacy
Tricks and Traps of Using Real People's Names in Your Writing Do You Need Permission to Write About Somebody?
THE BUSINESS OF CREATING
Tax & Business Law
Easy Tax Guide for Writer's, Photographers, and Other Freelancers
Should Writers and Illustrators Form an LLC (& Other Business Questions)
What Every Self-Published Author Needs to Know about Taxes
Tax Tips for Writers Who Hate Math
Sales Tax Basics for Indie Authors
The Tax Bill Passes (Authors Guild Article on Impact to Authors)
Authors: Take Advantage of the New Tax Deduction
Hi Writers. . . Let's Talk about Taxes
Tax Advice from a Debut Novelist Tax Resources for Writers Tax Tips for Freelance Writers and Self-Published Authors Beginner's Guide to Accounting for Freelancers
Understanding Your Book Contract
Hooray! You have a contract. Here are some articles to help you understand it and identify potential issues.
Deal Breakers 2013: Contract Terms Writers Should Avoid (WMG Writer's Guide) Ebook
Absolute Write : "Negotiating Your Book Contract: 20 'Must' Topics to Talk About" Part 1
Absolute Write : "Negotiating Your Book Contract: 20 'Must Topics to Talk About" Part 2
Ivan Hoffman : "The Ten Key Negotiating Points in an Author-Publisher Contract"
Copylaw.com : "What Not to Miss When Drafting & Negotiating Your Book Publishing Contract"
Publishlawyer.com : "First Publishing Contract"
Publishing Crawl: Contracts
Income as a Writer: Understanding Subrights
Life Plus 70 (Agent Ethan Ellenberg talks about negotiating rights)
PubCrawl Podcast: Publishing 201 Advance s and Royalties
An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Book Deals
The Harmful Impact of Audible Exclusive Audiobooks
Understanding Your Agent Contract
Sample Literary Agent Contract
Literary Agent Contracts: How to Protect Your Rights
Guide to the National Writer's Union Preferred Literary Agent Agreement: Understanding the Authhor-Agent Relationship (pdf article)
What to Look for in An Agent's Contract
Victoria Strauss: Author-Agent Contracts
Signing with a Literary Agent? Here's What Should Be in Your Contract
Agent/Publisher Contract Terms You Should Know (video)
Financial Matters
Estate Planning Basics for the Self-Published Writer
A Hot Steaming Sack of Business Advice for Writers
Women! Read Your Royalty Statements
How Authors Make Money
Naming a Literary Executor
CHILDREN'S PRIVACY ONLINE
If your website or blog is targeted to children under 13, you need to know the legal requirements for ensuring their privacy.
Children's Privacy: Online Information That You Need to Know
Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions (if you are running a website geared towards children, or creating children's apps, this is a must read)
COPPA and You (Roxie Munro) Fair Practices for Collecting Information From Children and COPPA Compliance
GENERAL RESOURCES
Author's Guild - provides free legal review of publishing contracts and other resources (like media liability insurance) for members (first year dues are $90)
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - list of resources and information about intellectual property and other legal issues
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