Is it OK to use a famous songs name for the title of a book?

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by TracySam

Whether or not it's required, it would still be "good form" to at least acknowledge the origin of the title in the Foreword or Acknowledgments section.


For example, Wally Lamb wrote She's Come Undone and politely acknowledged the song by The Guess Who, even though The Guess Who spelled it "Undun." But then he wrote I Know This Much Is True, and he did not acknowledge the band Spandau Ballet. People like me got a little irked at that. Not a big deal, and not illegal, but just the decent thing to do.

I would agree there. I didn't check the front matter of those two books for a shoutout, but it would be proper form.

[surilpandya]

Yes, Book titles aren't copyrighted either.

[Tracysherm]

Originally Posted by surilpandya

Yes, Book titles aren't copyrighted either.

Haha, I know. We had a discussion here somewhere about books with the same exact title, but that are very different.

[Jess5]

Originally Posted by TracySam

Whether or not it's required, it would still be "good form" to at least acknowledge the origin of the title in the Foreword or Acknowledgments section.


For example, Wally Lamb wrote She's Come Undone and politely acknowledged the song by The Guess Who, even though The Guess Who spelled it "Undun." But then he wrote I Know This Much Is True, and he did not acknowledge the band Spandau Ballet. People like me got a little irked at that. Not a big deal, and not illegal, but just the decent thing to do.

Which is surprising because he's admitted many times that he did get the name of the book I Know This Much is True from the song. I love both song and book.