[aodle]

A question for you seasoned writers...can I use lyrics from a girl scout song in my picture book?  I'm writing a story about my grandmother who used to sing it to me.  I don't know if this involves some sort of copyright infringement since the lyrics are not my original words.

[AnnH Posts: 1,448 Status: Offline I love to read and write! WWW]

I'm pretty sure you can not use the lyrics without permission.

[wolfie712 Posts: 236 Status: Offline Teacher, Writer, Up-All-Nighter WWW]

What Ann said.  And from what I've heard, it's harder to obtain permission to use lyrics than just about anything else that's copyright protected.

[Marissa Doyle Posts: 2,975 Status: Offline Charles Bewitched: out now! WWW]

Try Googling the song; if it was published before 1923, there's some chance it might be in the public domain...but maybe not. Here's an interesting article on copyright law involving a very well-known song: http://blog.librarylaw.com/librarylaw/2009/07/the-myth-of-the-pre1923-public-domain.html

[jancoates Posts: 131 Status: Offline Obsession? What obsession? WWW]

Sounds like it's probably the kind of traditional song that may be in the public domain - the author may even be unknown. I'm using lyrics from some popular 60s songs in my upcoming MG novel, and it cost between $65 and $150 for permission to use a couple of lines. It did take some digging to track down the rights holders.

[HaroldU Posts: 803 Status: Offline WWW]

You should do some research to determine if it really IS in the public domain--and if it's not, do NOT approach the Girl Scouts yet. Proceed with the project but understand that if you are offered a contract by a publisher, or decide to self-publish, you will then have to approach them. Some kind of mutually beneficial arrangement might be possible. Or they might demand a share of the royalties.

Don't be too encouraged by Jan's experience--it's one thing to use a lyric as one small part of a novel, and quite another to build an entire text around it. But in any case, don't seek permission NOW.

[Bobi Martin Posts: 222 Status: Offline Writers open the world to readers. WWW]

Can you tell your story without using the actual lyrics? For example, you could have Grandma singing, have yourself recognize the song from Girl Scouts and then use a line of context to imply the lyrics. Suddenly I realized what Grandma was trying to tell me. Lydia would always be my gold friend, but I could make silver friends at my new school.