Not entirely sure whether I'm posting this in the right place but grateful for any views.
My 1st novel has been accepted for publication (hurrah!)and it contains a couple of very short direct references to song lyrics. (I stop short of referring to them as quotations or extracts but that's just a technicality...)
Anyway, I know that it's my responsibility to get copyright clearance & to pay for it. I contacted EMI who publish one of the songs with details of the book, the initial print run, the territories involved and the song extract and they got straight back to me with a figure - £125 plus VAT.
Essentially I have 2 questions:
1) If this figure is based on a small-ish initial print run and the novel is subsequently reprinted (fingers crossed) will I be obliged to pay again?
2) Is it worth it in the first place? The lines involved are not central to the plot or anything but they do tie in nicely and I really like them where they are. Clearly they are unlikely to actually generate extra sales so in that respect I am not making any kind of investment by using them but I do think they add humour and poignancy to the book.
I know the sums involved aren't huge but they are quite significant to me. I know there's a lot of advice on WW about authors' liability for copyright and how expensive it can be - has anyone, or do you know of anyone who has actually paid the fee and found it worthwhile?
I don't have an agent to advise me so am hoping someone out there has words of wisdom, even if it's just 'don't bother, take them out'!
Thanks!
C

I'd certainly check the deal on the print-run. I'd be surprised if it mattered: they're more likely asking that so as to have a rough idea of what kind of scale of project it is. But check, or ask the Society of Authors how it should work. One issue is whether, if the rights were sold elsewhere, in the US, for instance, you'd have to pay again - that really would be worth checking.

I nearly put in a Noel Streatfeild quotation into one of my novels, and the payment would have been similar. I was very short of cash at the time, and decided not to do it after all. I settled for referring to it (in a book which is all about memory) rather loosely, which was almost more effective: sometimes necessity is the mother of invention.

Emma

Thanks Emma
The fee quoted was for world territories so even if I go global it should be OK. I think it would be slightly cheaper if I just paid for UK or Europe but could end up costing more if I bought other rights separately later. The other quote I want to use is from a Michael Jackson song (not as tacky as it sounds, honest...) so might be more expensive.
I like the idea of referring indirectly to the song - they are both well known enough that it should be effective. How indirect does one need to be? Ie is it ok to say, for example 'that line about a taste of honey'?
Thanks for the inspiration anyway!
C

Hello,

Sorry to jump on your thread. It's just that in my novel I refer to the titles of some Beatle's songs. Would I need to pay copyright for this?

Once again, sorry to hijack your thread.

Sara

Hi Sara
From what I gather, song titles are not subject to the same copyright rules. There have been quite a few WW forum posts on this kind of question so it might be worth searching through some of them.
PS - I've heard that using Beatles lyrics can be particularly expensive so it's worth double checking!

Thanks for that. I'll have to have a look into it. Perhaps my main character could be a fan of a less expensive band!

Sara