Posted by PaulB on December 01, 1999 at 10:25:55:
In Reply to: Copyright ramifications on song phrase. posted by Melanie on November 30, 1999 at 16:47:47:
: I never rec'd a reply from my 10/20 post, so am trying again. I would like to use a short phrase (just six words!) from a popular 60s song on a t-shirt design to sell at a local community fair. Could you tell me if I need to get permission from the song author to use that phrase, even though it became fairly commonly used on its own? I would really, really, REALLY appreciate a response. Thank you for your service and for your sense of humor.
I'm not a lawyer but I'd like to tackle this anyway. I don't
think you need any kind of permission. First, let's say it's
the song's title. Well, you can't copyright a title. I seriously
doubt that the people who put out those "truckin" tshirts paid a
cent to the Grateful Dead even though their song by that title
help popularize the phrase.
Secondly, if it's a local arts fair, it doesn't sound like you are
taking much of a chance. Again, I'm not a lawyer and this is not
legal advice but I don't think you've got anything to worry about.
Just my opinion.
PaulB