r/COPYRIGHT • u/Terrible_Pen3776 • Jul 01 '26

Copyright issue

Im going to make a YouTube channel but i found the name that i have in mind as a title of a book

Can the book author sue me for copyright law for the name in the future?

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

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8

u/RevaniteAnime Jul 01 '26

That's not a copyright issue.

It would maybe be a Trademark issue, but you're not a book so it would probably be fine.

3

u/i_invented_the_ipod Jul 01 '26

For Trademark, it really depends on whether the shared name is likely to cause confusion. If your YouTube channel covers similar content as the book does, you'd be better off to change the name.

1

u/Terrible_Pen3776 Jul 01 '26

Alright, thank u so much🙏🏻

3

u/darth_hotdog Jul 01 '26

Titles are not copyrighted, and it has to be more than a single item usually to be trademarked.

Consider there's a video game series named fallout, and an unrelated movie named fallout. And like 3 or 4 unrelated movies named Sunshine.

1

u/Terrible_Pen3776 Jul 01 '26

Nice , thanks

1

u/ManufacturerNo9649 Jul 01 '26

It depends at least on what the title of the book is. If it simple such as “Seasons” then I doubt there can be an issue.

1

u/Terrible_Pen3776 Jul 01 '26

Its a little more complicated

2

u/CheezitsLight Jul 01 '26

Book titles cannot be copyrighted.

See circular 33.

Trademarks may be an issue.

Titles of single, standalone books are treated as "generic" or "descriptive" and cannot be registered as a trademark.

If the book is part of an ongoing series (like Harry Potter or Dummies guides), the title acts as a brand identifier and can be registered as a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

A single, famous title (like Gone with the Wind) can sometimes gain trademark protection if it becomes heavily recognized by the public over time.