Memoirist sometimes worry about being sued for libel or slander or defamation. Here’s the good news: you can’t be sued for what you’ve written until you make your work public.

12 Ways to Avoid Getting Sued When Writing Your Memoirs by Angela Hoy, WritersWeekly.com and BookLocker.com

1. Change your name.
2. Change the names of everyone else in the book, even pets.
3. Change the descriptions and even the gender of some of the folks portrayed in your book.
4. Change all locations.

Everyone has a right to control the commercial exploitation of their name, image and likeness. Nonfiction authors who refer to real people and use their names, images or likenesses in their books without permission (sometimes called a “Talent Release”) might be exposed to a lawsuit for a right of publicity violation.

The answer is, yes, it is worth it. When a true case of defamation exists, there are damages that are caused as a result. Those damages are compensable through a civil lawsuit, in California and beyond. General Damages: This includes loss of reputation, shame, hurt feelings, embarrassment, and more.

Publishers can be sued for publishing false and defamatory statements and, sometimes, even just embarrassing private facts about individuals; and in our highly proprietary and litigious age, more and more references to individuals, living or deceased, bring claims of defamation, breach of privacy, or violation of …

Thus, a book publisher or a newspaper publisher can be held liable for anything that appears within its pages. The theory behind this “publisher” liability is that a publisher has the knowledge, opportunity, and ability to exercise editorial control over the content of its publications.

Unless restricted by a valid prior restraint (which is rare), the news media are free to publish any information or opinion they desire. This freedom, however, does not immunize them from liability for what they publish. A newspaper that publishes false information about a person, for example, can be sued for libel.

Here are some of the challenges faced by the book publishing industry.

• Piracy as a problem. Online piracy has changed the way content is shared and consumed by the reader.
• The rise of Audiobooks.
• Changing Reading habits.
• Compromising on Quality due to cost.
• Selecting the Right target audience.
• Extreme competition.

Copyright and publishing (or reproduction) rights are two different things. Copyright is a legal term. Publishing rights are what writers sell, assign, license or otherwise hand over when they allow others to publish their work. …

Common self-publishing companies to avoid….Here are five book publishers to avoid with a “Watchdog Advisory” provided by the Alliance of Independent Authors:

• Abbott Press. Concerns: Quality, Value, Service, Communication, Transparency, Marketing, Legal.
• Alliant Press.
• AlphaScript.
• America Star Books.
• Archway Publishing.

The basic copyright law states that if you create a piece of work , it is yours. Copyright is a legal right given to any creator. You will find that almost all books carry a message that reads, No part of the publication can be reproduced in any material form without the written permission of the copyright holder.

The first steps of the publishing process are acquisition and editing. Acquisition can occur in different ways, but generally authors send either a draft of their manuscript or a proposal to multiple publishers.

Basic copyright law says that if you create it then you own it. Yes, there are exceptions and nuances, but for the most part you can do whatever you wish with your own creations.

Copyright

copyright requirements There are three basic requirements for copyright protection: that which is to be protected must be a work of authorship; it must be original; and it must be fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

The following are not protected by copyright, although they may be covered by patent and trademark laws: works not fixed in tangible form of expression (eg, speeches or performances that have not been written or recorded); titles; names; short phrases; slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere variation of typographic …

You can register a copyright for your book by submitting your registration electronically, or by mailing in a print application….Electronic Registration

1. Go to the Copyright Office’s registration page.
2. Click on Literary Works.
3. You will now be on the Literary Works copyright page.
4. This will take you to a log in page.

Most publishing entities are honest, but some do steal. That means it will steal not just one book, but many books — and these books must be making a profit for the entity, or there would be no motivation for theft.

Safety First! 4 Ways to Protect Yourself as a Freelance Writer

1. Do business via websites meant for freelancers.
2. Use a virtual private network.
3. Keep your information safe.
4. Use plagiarism technology to your advantage.