One of the Most Common Questions We Receive – Can I publish song lyrics?
My manuscript is in final review before I take the steps of submitting. In my last novel, it was my understanding that ANY line from a copyrighted song must be granted permission by whoever holds the copyright.
I did more recent research and found something stating I can use two lines from song lyrics. Is this true?
Sincerely,
-A.L.
No, you can’t – at least not without written permission.
Songs are very short and, thus, not subject to fair use law. You must obtain written permission from the copyright holder to use any part of the lyrics. You can, however, mention the song title without permission.
For more details, see:
Can I Publish Song Lyrics? No, But Here’s What You Can Do…
Remember, I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice. For further information about copyright law, contact your attorney.