Re: verbal permission to cite from book

On Wed, 18 Aug 1999, Marilyn Hook <hookm[_at_]mtc.mid.tec.sc.us> wrote:
>
> A faculty member here is working on a book of baby names. He has
> spoken with an author of a book of baby names and has asked his
> permission to use some of the names and definitions in the author's
> book. The author has given him oral permi ssion in a telephone
> conversation, but will not confirm with a letter. Our faculty
> member has e-mailed this author and left him telephone messages
> for the past nine months.
>
> Is this enough permission to protect the faculty member if he uses
> this material? If you want to respond only to me, my address is:
> hookm[_at_]mtc.mid.tec.sc.us. Thanks.

The answer to your question is no. (Oral permission is not valid in any court -- you need a written permission.) But, you really do not need permission to copy baby names from any book. No one has monopoly on names.

However, you need to be careful with copying the selection itself. The selection itself is copyrightable and you cannot copy the same selection of baby names. What you can do is to purchase at least 5 books on baby names. Then, read all of them, picking some names you want to include in your new book.

Secondly, you need to be careful with the definitions. Many of the definitions are too brief (i.e. two or three words) to obtain copyright. If a definition is too long, make up your own words.

In other words, stop asking anyone for permission to copy baby names (as long as you do not copy the same selection) and short definitions (less than three words). In yet other words, exercise your natural right to copy baby names.

I am sorry to say but none of the above is legal advice.

Joseph Pietro Riolo
<riolo[_at_]voicenet.com> Received on Thu Aug 19 1999 - 09:49:59 GMT