Legal Resources for Creatives
Welcome to our new page with links to the legal resources including intellectual property, legal and tax information, understanding a publishing contract, children's privacy online, and more. These links do not constitute legal advice--they are provided as a starting point for research.
Copyrights
Copyright Tips and Tidbits; How and When to Register, How to Format Your Notice, and What Not to Do
6 Questions Writers Ask About Copyright and the Law
Authors: Keep Your Copyrights, You Earned Them
A Great List of Links about Copyright Law for Creatives
How to Reference Pop Culture in Your Fiction
6 Questions Writers Ask About Copyright and the Law
Authors: Keep Your Copyrights, You Earned Them
A Great List of Links about Copyright Law for Creatives
How to Reference Pop Culture in Your Fiction
Does Generative Artificial Intelligence Violate Copyright?
Public Domain
Say you want to refer to a fairy tale or use the words of a nursery rhyme. Some resources on how to figure out if a work is in the public domain.
U.S. Copyright Office - online searchable database
THE BUSINESS OF CREATING
Tax & Business Law
What Every Self-Published Author Needs to Know about Taxes
Tax Tips for Writers Who Hate Math
Sales Tax Basics for Indie Authors
The Tax Bill Passes (Authors Guild Article on Impact to Authors)
Authors: Take Advantage of the New Tax Deduction
Hi Writers. . . Let's Talk about Taxes
Tax Advice from a Debut Novelist
Tax Tips for Writers Who Hate Math
Sales Tax Basics for Indie Authors
The Tax Bill Passes (Authors Guild Article on Impact to Authors)
Authors: Take Advantage of the New Tax Deduction
Hi Writers. . . Let's Talk about Taxes
Tax Advice from a Debut Novelist
Beginner's Guide to Accounting for Freelancers
Deal Breakers 2013: Contract Terms Writers Should Avoid (WMG Writer's Guide) Ebook
Absolute Write: "Negotiating Your Book Contract: 20 'Must' Topics to Talk About" Part 1
Absolute Write: "Negotiating Your Book Contract: 20 'Must Topics to Talk About" Part 2
Ivan Hoffman: "The Ten Key Negotiating Points in an Author-Publisher Contract"
Copylaw.com: "What Not to Miss When Drafting & Negotiating Your Book Publishing Contract"
Publishlawyer.com: "First Publishing Contract"
Publishing Crawl: Contracts
Income as a Writer: Understanding Subrights
Life Plus 70 (Agent Ethan Ellenberg talks about negotiating rights)
PubCrawl Podcast: Publishing 201 Advances and Royalties
An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Book Deals
The Harmful Impact of Audible Exclusive Audiobooks
If your website or blog is targeted to children under 13, you need to know the legal requirements for ensuring their privacy.
Children's Privacy: Online Information That You Need to Know
Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions (if you are running a website geared towards children, or creating children's apps, this is a must read)
COPPA and You (Roxie Munro)
Understanding Your Book Contract
Hooray! You have a contract. Here are some articles to help you understand it and identify potential issues.
Absolute Write: "Negotiating Your Book Contract: 20 'Must' Topics to Talk About" Part 1
Absolute Write: "Negotiating Your Book Contract: 20 'Must Topics to Talk About" Part 2
Ivan Hoffman: "The Ten Key Negotiating Points in an Author-Publisher Contract"
Copylaw.com: "What Not to Miss When Drafting & Negotiating Your Book Publishing Contract"
Publishlawyer.com: "First Publishing Contract"
Publishing Crawl: Contracts
Income as a Writer: Understanding Subrights
Life Plus 70 (Agent Ethan Ellenberg talks about negotiating rights)
PubCrawl Podcast: Publishing 201 Advances and Royalties
An Agent Explains the Ins and Outs of Book Deals
The Harmful Impact of Audible Exclusive Audiobooks
Understanding Your Agent Contract
Guide to the National Writer's Union Preferred Literary Agent Agreement: Understanding the Authhor-Agent Relationship (pdf article)
What to Look for in An Agent's Contract
Victoria Strauss: Author-Agent Contracts
Signing with a Literary Agent? Here's What Should Be in Your Contract
Agent/Publisher Contract Terms You Should Know (video)
Victoria Strauss: Author-Agent Contracts
Signing with a Literary Agent? Here's What Should Be in Your Contract
Agent/Publisher Contract Terms You Should Know (video)
Financial Matters
CHILDREN'S PRIVACY ONLINE
If your website or blog is targeted to children under 13, you need to know the legal requirements for ensuring their privacy.
Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked Questions (if you are running a website geared towards children, or creating children's apps, this is a must read)
COPPA and You (Roxie Munro)
Fair Practices for Collecting Information From Children and COPPA Compliance
Author's Guild - provides free legal review of publishing contracts and other resources (like media liability insurance) for members (first year dues are $90)
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - list of resources and information about intellectual property and other legal issues
GENERAL RESOURCES
Author's Guild - provides free legal review of publishing contracts and other resources (like media liability insurance) for members (first year dues are $90)
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - list of resources and information about intellectual property and other legal issues