Q: When is it ok not to get permission for use for an idea? I plan to publish (asap) a book of primary singing time ideas..
I need help from someone who knows book publishing/copyright law well. I thought I was good, but I should have made sure...I've put together a book. It's a list of over 100 activities that can be used for primary singing time. I gathered ideas from all over (mainly online in a public fb group) plus added a few things myself. Since the majority of the ideas have been stated by many people (3+-10+ people) in many variations, and "original idea ownership" is virtually impossible to track down, I did not ask for permission to use the ideas. Am I legally safe or what can I do at this point to be legally safe? Am I obligated to track down the "original author" of each idea (which is basically impossible) and gain permission for use?
A:
Ideas are not owned, nor are they subject of copyright, which protects only "works of expression."
Your compilation is itself a work of expression (namely, yours) and you own the copyright in that work.
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