Is it allowed to quote song lyrics in a book?
November 6, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Johann Kock
Dear Media Law Attorney,
My name is Sebastian Kraftner and I am currently working on a book about the history of pop music. In my work, I would like to quote some song lyrics to illustrate certain developments and influences within the music scene. However, I am unsure if it is legally allowed to quote song lyrics in a book.
The current situation is that I have already incorporated some passages from song lyrics into my work without obtaining the corresponding rights beforehand. Now, I am worried that I may be violating copyright law and that legal consequences may be imminent.
My question to you as an expert in media law is therefore: Is it allowed to quote song lyrics in a book? And if not, what options do I have to legally use song lyrics in my work? Are there specific rules or regulations that I need to adhere to in order to avoid copyright infringement?
I thank you in advance for your support and legal advice on this matter.
Sincerely,
Sebastian Kraftner
Dear Mr. Kraftner,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of song lyrics in your book on the history of pop music. It is understandable that you are concerned about potentially infringing on copyright if you quote song lyrics without having obtained the necessary rights. I will try to provide you with a detailed answer to your question.
In general, song lyrics are protected by copyright as they are considered literary works. This means that using song lyrics in a book without the author's permission is usually not allowed. So if you want to use song lyrics in your work, you need to obtain the rights from the respective rights holder. This can be done either directly from the author or from the collecting society that manages the rights to the song lyrics.
However, there are exceptions where using song lyrics without the author's permission is allowed. The right to quote allows you to quote short excerpts of song lyrics to illustrate a particular development or influences within the music scene, for example. However, you must ensure that the quote is used appropriately and in a factual context. Additionally, you should correctly cite the source to respect the copyright of the author.
If you have already included song lyrics in your book without obtaining the necessary rights, I strongly recommend that you clarify the situation and obtain the required permissions to avoid legal consequences. You could contact the respective rights holders and request retroactive permission. In some cases, you may also enter into a licensing agreement to regulate the use of the song lyrics in your book.
In summary, using song lyrics in a book is generally possible as long as the necessary rights are obtained. If you are unsure whether you are infringing on copyright, I recommend seeking advice from a specialized media law attorney to receive legal guidance in your specific situation.
I hope this response has been helpful and I am available to assist with any further questions.
Sincerely,
Johann Kock
Media Law Attorney
