Can you get sued for naming your band after say a book title or movie?

Question

sorry i was curious

Answer 1

You can get sued if someone else owns the copyright.

Answer 2

uh no you dont have to

Answer 3

yes, they are  i dont know what your thinking guy that first answer

Answer 4

Probably, i'm not quite sure about copyright, i know you can't use brand names. Though patents usually only last for a certain period of time.

I suppose if i wanted to i could call a band "amber spyglass" i don't think it is a band even though it is the name of one of Phillip Pullman's books. Yeah i reakon you could as long as it isn't already a bands name, even one which has been gone for ages.

Answer 5

No, I don't think so.  You can if you name it after another band though, but maybe that's obvious.

Answer 6

Nope.

Answer 7

Why not be creative in naming your band, rather than just copying the name of something else.

The fact that your so lazy speaks volumes about the creative integrity of your music (musac).

Answer 8

i dont think so but i dont know

Answer 9

I'm really not sure but it would be nice to be creative and create a name by your own because it would be more special.

plus if the name of the book or movie is not famous then no one will know anyways..

Answer 10

The first example I thought of was the band "Chicago", who released their first album as the band "Chicago Transit Authority".  The actual CTA threatened legal action so the band shortened it to "Chicago":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_(ba...

The US Copyright site's FAQs say you cannot protect a band's name, and goes on to say "Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases."  LOL - check out the question about copyrighting your Elvis sighting - WTF!?:

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-pr...

Answer 11

nope. "save ferris" well, their band name is from ferris bueller's day off.

Answer 12

Nope. Titles are not copyrighted. Here is a section from the faq on the US Copyright Office page:

How do I copyright a name, title, slogan or logo?

Copyright does not protect names, titles, slogans, or short phrases. In some cases, these things may be protected as trademarks. Contact the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, 800-786-9199, for further information. However, copyright protection may be available for logo artwork that contains sufficient authorship. In some circumstances, an artistic logo may also be protected as a trademark.

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-pr...

Answer 13

Titles are free.

Answer 14

Nope. Like, Mozart Season (the band) named themself after a book one of the band members read.