Q: What kind of Permission do I need to use a song as the outline of my novel?
I just finished my first draft. To compose the climax of the story I used one of my favorite songs as an outline, as it fit perfectly with my tale. I did not use exact lyrics at all, and significantly expanded the story of the song. The narrative flow and sequence of events is the same, however. The major points, and imagery of the song are there, and identifiable to those with knowledge of the song, even if the song is about 400 words and the portion of my story in question is over 15,000 words. Do I need permission in order to use a song this way?
A: An attorney would need to review the song and the story to determine if one infringes the other. If so, you would need a license to create derivative works.
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