Publish Emails
Hi, I am writing a loose autobiographical piece, and wish to include email correspondences sent to me from another. Is this legal without that persons consent.
Re: Publish Emails
This is an interesting area of the law, and one that's not entirely settled, so there's no definite answer to be given.
Generally, the author of a work (whether a book, song, letter, email, etc.) is the owner of the copyright therein. So, the argument can be(and often is) made that permission is required before publishing. The best practice, then, is to ask.
However, if the correspondent KNEW that you planned to publish the emails, (or at least were likely to) and sent them anyway, you could argue that he/she impliedly granted you a license to do so.
Ultimately, the publisher of your book will decide whether you need to obtain the permission of the emails' authors... but it's best if you have obtained permission in advance.
Re: Publish Emails
This is an interesting area of the law, and one that's not entirely settled, so there's no definite answer to be given.
Generally, the author of a work (whether a book, song, letter, email, etc.) is the owner of the copyright therein. So, the argument can be(and often is) made that permission is required before publishing. The best practice, then, is to ask.
However, if the correspondent KNEW that you planned to publish the emails, (or at least were likely to) and sent them anyway, you could argue that he/she impliedly granted you a license to do so.
Ultimately, the publisher of your book will decide whether you need to obtain the permission of the emails' authors... but it's best if you have obtained permission in advance.
