Hello to everyone who reads this,

I've been away for a while, so my apologies if this has been covered recently. Please could anyone tell me if it's acceptable to
quote a few lines of a poem by a published author in one's novel without obtaining permission? I think I've read somewhere that it is but can't remember where I've read it. Should you put an acknowledgment of the author anyway in the front of the book?

What exactly is covered by obscenity? I presume normal sort of swearing isn't what this means?

Thanks very much to anyone and everyone who might reply. I'd be so grateful for your trouble.

C. Kirby

Hello Boz,

As far as I can find out from The Writers and Artists Year Book (2004 edition) and Carol Blake's From Pitch To Publication (Carol is a Literary Agent) it seems that you must get permission from the author of any source of written material that you quote in your work. You also need to make an acknowledgment of these in your book. I'm not an expert, as you know, but have decided to cut the excerpt of a poem I quoted because getting permission to use it can be complicated. If you book is published abroad (I should be so delighted) you need extra permission for that.

As to using a pop stars name in my book, I've dropped that too. Libel is complicated too and can be seen to be present in your work even if you don't think it is. The onus of proof is on you. Mine was reasonably innocent, in my opinion, but who knows how it may be interpreted by someone else.

I've created my own few lines of verse to replace the lines of poetry and invented a fictional star to replace the live pop star. I don't want to risk being sued for a large sum I don't have.

Sorry if this makes life difficult. You may get permissions if you are patient and need them. Just be careful about it all.

Best wishes,
Catherine