Whats the limit on quoting a copyrighted source?

door

I am writing a book made up of quotes Ive taken from other sources and stuff I have gathered myself. I am really stuck on how much I can cite from another place without seeking specific permission. There is some fair use policy in America but in Ireland does anybody how many words can be fairly taken from another book or publication without getting permission?

Pines

door wrote: »

I am really stuck on how much I can cite from another place without seeking specific permission.

The general rule here is that if you copy without permission a substantial part of a copyright work you infringe. Substantial may mean the quantity used, or the importance of what you used.

door wrote: »

There is some fair use policy in America but in Ireland does anybody how many words can be fairly taken from another book or publication without getting permission?

First off, there's no rule of thumb you can rely on. A recent case in Europe found infringement in as few as 11 words. The Court found that the piece quoted could be entitled to copyright if it embodied the original intellectual creation of the original author, so the same could be true for any significant quote.

Second you're correct to note that there's a difference between US and Irish law on this. There is no fair use in Irish law. There are limited categories of "fair dealings". The main headings you'd try to rely on, from the sounds of what you say, are fair dealings for the purposes of criticism, review, or news reporting.

Nobody is going to be able to give you a green light and say "if you only quote this much, nobody will take offence". A litigious copyright owner or author's estate (ring any bells?) can allege copyright infringement over the most minor of takings.

I know you don't want to hear it, but seeking permission is the safe way of doing this, unless you fall squarely into (say) quotation for the purpose of criticism, which is how most current affaits books would be able to (say) quote from an interview with politicians or bankers.

door

Thank you for that very informative run down on copyright. I think I should seek permission now from all the sources I have. Of course its going to be tough because I have stuff taken from RTE and The Irish Times and I have no idea who to contact in these places. I suppose any stuff from books means the publishing company.