Do You Need Liability Insurance?
It’s a lawsuit-happy world out there, and even fiction writers need to be aware of the dangers. If you write true-crime novels, for example, you might be sued for defamation, invasion of privacy, or...
View ArticleReal People in Novels
When you write about real, live people you can expose yourself to legal liability in multiple ways. And simply changing the names is no solution if the person can be identified by circumstances,...
View ArticleLibel in Fiction
Q. I heard about the libel lawsuit against “Law and Order.” I thought fiction was exempt from defamation claims. What gives? A. Making a libel-in-fiction claim in the U.S. (other countries may...
View ArticleQ&A: LLCs For Writers
Q. Some writers have formed limited liability companies (LLCs). What’s the advantage? A. An LLC is an entity with the advantage of limited member liability and flexible tax structure. Although a...
View ArticleQ&A: Web Linking Liability
Q. I’ve have a web site for my mystery novels, and I link to many other author and publisher sites. I’ve heard there can be liability for trademark or copyright infringement for such links. Can this...
View ArticleDo You Need Liability Insurance?
I have decided to self-publish one of my out-of-print novels. Do I need liability insurance? A. Maybe. Some background: when your book originally was published, your publisher (unless a VERY small...
View ArticleQ&A: Liability Insurance For Self-Published Novel
Q. I have decided to self-publish one of my out-of-print novels. Do I need liability insurance? A. Maybe. Some background: when your book originally was published, your publisher (unless a VERY...
View ArticleAuthor’s Guild Lawsuit
The Author’s Guild has become quite litigious in recent years. The Guild’s lawsuit against Google for its Google Books project continues, and will go to trial sometime next year. Meanwhile, the...
View ArticleE-Book Price Fixing
Q. What’s the status of the e-book price fixing lawsuit against Apple and other publishers? A. Last April, the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five major publishers:...
View ArticleLegal Review of Manuscript
Q. I am completing my first novel. I have heard that I should have an attorney review it for legal liability. Is this really necessary A. Unless you are self-publishing, a legal review is not...
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