Legal Aspects of Writing

The list of what you may and you may not do in your writing.

The following things are some Legal Aspects of Writing I learn during my writing lesson:

1. Pay Attention to Copyright

Copyright is the exclusive right to use an original work, usually owned by the creator of the work until he or she sells it to another party. If you copy another’s work without permission, you can be sued for doing so. There is no copyright in titles, idea, themes or basic plot.

2. Avoid Plagiarism

Plagiarism is presenting another writers’ idea as your own. However if you rework and idea and add your own research, it is not a plagiarism.

3. Don’t Do a Libel

Libel is a defamatory statement about a person in writing. If you must use public figures such us film stars, athletes or politicians be sure that you don’t write something offensive, derogatory or untrue.

4. Be Sure that Your Fact is Correct

In review writing you are allowed to point out errors of facts as long as your fact is correct but you cannot say anything derogatory about the author.

5. Read Your Contracts Carefully

Pay attention if there is a clear definition of payment times, royalty, license, advance payment, publishers’ terms and condition, completion date, copyright.

6. Check Public Lending Right

This is the payment based on the number of times your book is borrowed from public libraries.

7. Pseudonym

You may use a pseudonym but don’t forget to provide your real name for payment matter.

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