Klarinet Archive - Posting 000489.txt from 2000/06

From: "Bryan Cholfin" <cranked@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Kenny G boycott?
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 02:27:27 -0400

----------
>From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
> To make sure there's
> no infringement, the magazine and newspaper editors I've worked with prefer
> for writers to quote no more than 300 words from one source unless we get
> permission. (Editor Richard Valley spelled out the 300-word standard to me
> for my _Scarlet Street_ articles, for instance.) Quotations used in a longer
> work of criticism, such as a book about the author of the primary sources,
> often total considerably more than 300 words. However, allowable quotation
> of poetry and song lyrics is far more limited.

Fair use rules in copyright law don't specify any word limit. It all depends
on context and proportion. The legal department where I work requires us to
get permissions for all quotes, even short ones (admittedly permissions for
short quotes are usually given freely). Poetry and song lyrics are very
strict--they'll usually only allow us one line, knowing (as everyone on this
list knows) that record companies and music publishers _will_ sue perceived
infringers, and will demand outrageous fees for permissions. Academic
publicationss are allowed freer use for purposes of criticism (whether this
list counts as 'critical discussion' I couldn't say).

Of course, I'm now in the middle of an infringement dispute over a piece of
art used on a book cover, so I'm just going to say: always be sure you're
getting permission, and from the right people.

--Bryan

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org