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[Steven_M._Ulmen]

Hi. I have completed a novel set in the 1970's that refers to jokes and song titles of that era. Is there a copyright issue here?

Also, I have quoted a stanza from Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Beret." Is this legal, or do I need a release?

(Not published yet - draft only)

Thanks.

[M. Arthur Auslander]

Dear Mr. Ulmen,

Joke usually are not a problem, unless you copy, verbatim from a copyrighted work, even then they may not be actionable.

Reference to a work or use of the information in a work is usully not a problem, but quoting a stanza sounds risky without permission.

Reference to and discussing the meaning should be no problem.

Get permission and give credits.