Q: I wanna write a book/make a game about a non-english song. Do I need to get copyright permissions or can I just credit?
Basically, I used the song for inspiration for characters, setting, and plot. The reasons, some events, names, and everything else will be from my imagination. And some characters will say some lines from the song word for word in conversation (not song). I will not have the actual song sung anywhere in the book.
He would think/talk about death, life, and things, and have a similar ideaology to the song.
to quote " the boy with sharp brown eyes and sun blonde hair"
"things are only temporary and
want to try dying
or do you have something to live for?"
Do I need copyright permission? Remember, this is a translation and not quote for quote, word for word. (I would be quoting the translation directly). Would I be fine legally just crediting the band, singer, and songwriter at the beginning with company names, and the credits? I can say inspired by or based off of the song. I just do not want to deal with getting copyright permissions from a country I do not speak the language
A:
A true answer would require review of the original material and a more precise description of exactly what you are doing. You would have to consult an attorney.
Here are a couple of observations. Crediting the original creators means that you are not a plagiarist. However, the credit could be viewed as a statement that you have copied the work.
Copyrights generally cover translations of the original.
Copyrights generally cover the lyrics separately as well as in the song.
Copyrights do not usually cover general ideas.
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