Can an author use the lyrics from a song they don't own in their novel...

[Sivos]

...that was inspired by the song? I'm writing a fantasy novel that I plan to get published and I was listening to a song that inspired a scene in the book. I was wondering if I am able to use one of the lyrics from the song in the book under copyright law. Obviously, I do not have the connections to get in touch with the artist so I can't ask them myself. I'm just curious if copyright law prevents this. I know you can write a book inspired by a song with giving credit to the artist and naming which song you chose. I just don't really know how that works with copyright. I do plan on making a credit page giving thanks to various people with helping with the book so of course I will thank the artist if I am able to do this. Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[AnnabethChase5450]

Jennifer Anne Kogler wanted to do that when she wrote The Otherworldlies. She had been able to contact the people who owned the song under copywrite, but they were going to charge her an insanely expensive price to use the song in her book. So she didn't do it.

What I'm basically saying is that you have to get permission, unless you want a lawsuit, but it's insanely expensive. I advise that you don't even do it at all.

 

[dusty_titus]

When you get around to publishing this novella - you just contact your publisher and they'll tell you how to handle this particular thing. Each occurrence is different as copyright laws varies with the date the composition was published.