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Copyright & Patents/copyright question

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Expert: - 7/29/2008


Question
What is the rule for using two or three lines from a song in a novel? Thank you.

Answer
My understanding is that as long as you credit the song & songwriter, it would constitute fair use.

However, as I indicated in my profile, I only  do patents, copyright law is outside my area of competence. As a published author myself, & a writer of technical papers & also a contributing author, that is the rule I go by.

As a double check, your publisher, when editing for publication, would flag it if he thought you were stretchng the limits on "fair usage", which I doubt.

Hope that helps.

My website has lots of free info for creative people, as well as parents afflicted with creative children.

There is also a link, on the inventors resources page to the Ron Riley Scam alert page, which all creative people should take a look at.

Hope that helps. Best wishes on your project!

Copyright & Patents

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Volunteer

George H. Morgan, P.E., Patent Agent

Expertise

U.S. Patent Law only, no copyright or trademark qualification. I was a volunteer in the past, but my homeland defense activities pulled me away at times, and I was dropped. If you want me back, I am willing to come back.

Experience

Thirty one years as a Registered U.S. Patent Agent and a lifetime in product and manufacturing process and methods development as well as sales and marketing of new products with a number of blue chip corporations.

Organizations
Rotary, Society of Automotive Engineers, American Army Aviation Association, Registered Professional Engineer, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Indiana Guard Reserve Officer

Publications
Various Society of Manufacturing Engineers & Society of Automotive Engineers technical publications. Ref. my web site: http://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Machine Design Option), L.S.U., Baton Rouge, Louisiana; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics Option), University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri, Helicopter Maintenance Course, 18 weeks, Ft. Sill Army Aviation School, Troop Information and Education Leadership Course, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Numerous Society of Automotive Engineers Seminars, Dale Carnegie Management Training Instructors Course.

Awards and Honors
Bausch & Lomb Science Award, Indiana Homeland Defense Service Ribbon, 2003.

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