In my novel, Tollesbury Time Forever, the main character is obsessed with The Beatles and quotes lyrics from there songs. I have also quoted their lyrics in some of the descriptions. Is that something I may have problems with if published??

http://tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com/

I think so. The lyrics are still in copyright, but who owns the rights I don't know. At one point I believe Michael Jackson had rights over some, but he sold it on.

I remember trying to get approval to use a Beatles photo for a friend's Beatles fanzine and I couldn't. It was nigh on impossible.

Maybe the lyrics are different, but take care with copyright.

Thank you Sharley. I was thinking that maybe the words that the character speaks might be ok but the fact that I have quoted the whole of Here, There and Everywhere towards the end of the novel may pose a problem.

http://tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com/

I guess it depends how it is done. If a character says 'Help I need someone' and it could be taken several ways, it isn't a problem. However, quoting the song, or even sections of it, might be an issue (probably would be an issue).

Yes, I think you may be right. I maybe thinking too far ahead - I think I should just get it accepted by a publisher first!!

http://tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com/

I believe Beatles lyrics are notoriously hard to clear / extremely expensive. I've just spent three months clearing a 7 line quote from T.S. Eliot which will cost me £100.
Susiex

I tried to get four lines from a Hank Williams song and they wanted a grand.

Yes, music copyright holders are notoriously demanding in what they'd charge. Which is why that the usual advice with song lyrics is simply not to go there.

The fact that you're only quoting bits of lyrics in most places doesn't make a difference: if what you're quoting is a direct and recognisable use of the words, you're in breach of copyright if you don't get permission

Having said that, you don't need to get permission when it's in manuscript (unless you put it out on the Net or some such) until you've got a contract to publish it. It'll be in the contract that you clear the permissions and pay for them, and you have to sign that you have. And your editor will probably remind you to do it, as the publisher is jointly liable with you if the copyright holder sues... It can take ages, too, so if you get a contract you need to get onto it straight away, too

I suggest you get hold of the Society of Authors' leaflet about clearing copyrights, which gives you the details.

http://www.societyofauthors.org/guides-and-articles

Thank you so much for your advice. Hmmm. Looks like I'm going to have to rewrite the last chapter. Lines from a Beatles song then an Elvis song are interspersed with the action almost as if they were the backing track of a film. Works really well but back to the drawing board methinks....

I just went through the process of trying to get rights to use some South Pacific lyrics from the Rodgers and Hammerstein organisation. I echo everything said here already. They wanted a lot of money and, in the end, I thought it was best to just edit them out. It's surprising how easy it is to just evoke the lyric. Sometimes it even sounds quite poetic when you do that and there was at least one instance where I think the new way added something to the text because now it was my character interpreting the lyric. And you can use the song title, so if you choose a title that has the lyric in it, say, 'A Hard Day's Night' the reader will hear the song in their head right away.

Also worth bearing in mind that the responsibility and cost of obtaining permission lies with the author not the publishing house. I'd edit out every single quote. Titles are free, though, so you can scatter them about.

Thank you so much for your advice everyone. I really see what you mean by 'evoking' the lyric. Top stuff and thank you!!

And if you could check out and follow the blog that would be wonderful!!!

tollesburytimeforever.blogspot.com

Stu