Legal Question in Intellectual Property in South Carolina

I have collected e-mails over the last 10-15 years containing various jokes, inspirational words of wisdom, humor, etc, with the intent one day of possibly publishing a book of al the collected Internet 'Words of Wisdom/Humor'. The vast majority of the collected items have no reference to original source. A very few reference a reporter or source.

Can I write/compile this book and have it published without fear of litigation/law suit from someone claiming to be the source of these items?


Asked on 11/17/10, 12:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Elliott Alderman The Alderman Law Office

You would need to either clear rights -- that is, get permission -- or establish that the jokes, words, etc. are either not copyrightable or in the public domain.The fact that the source is not identified is not a defense to a copyright infringement claim.

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Answered on 11/22/10, 1:40 pm


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