January 16, 2009
Can I Use Movie Lines And Song Lyrics in My Novel ?
vivaglam08 asked:
I’m writing a teen fiction novel and I want to know If I can include a few quotes from films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s as well as song lyrics such as Fallin’ by Alicia Keys.
I’m writing a teen fiction novel and I want to know If I can include a few quotes from films such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s as well as song lyrics such as Fallin’ by Alicia Keys.
Filed under Books & Authors by Musical Mind
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Comments on Can I Use Movie Lines And Song Lyrics in My Novel ? »
yeah i guess you can as long as you cite them in some way.
Yeah, but it should be clear that it is not your work, or else that’s considered plagiarism, which could get you in a lot of trouble.
There’s a thousand ways to cite the work. When you place it into your story, you can put it in italics or quotes and then place an asterisk next to it, indicating that you’ve cited it in some page in your book.
You could also work it into your story by saying, “As Alecia Keys said, ‘I keep on falling in and out of love…’ ”
Or, if you’re putting it in the book before your story, write it as is and then place the author’s and work’s name after it.
Ex: “I keep on fallin’
In and out of love
With you.”
-Alecia Keys, “Fallin”
I’d definitely play it on the safe side. There’s nothing wrong with putting it in there, but make it clear that it’s a quote from something. You can have them listening to the song or singing it or watching the movie or just copying it. I would make a separate page with cites on it at the end of the book. This page should give any quotes you’ve used. I’ve seen it in other books, just make it like a Reference page and put the quote, where you got it, and the chapter and page in your book. Or at the end of each page you can have an * and the citation there.
I would be very careful. Music lyrics in particular are very touchy subjects. You might get away with one line. Two lines and they might sue. Perhaps you can google this topic and get some attorneys’ points of view.
Another thing to worry about is that it will really date your book. For example, people might be sick of the song by the time they read it.