How Estorytellers Helped a Business Author Avoid $1,200 in Copyright Fees

Background

A business author approached Estorytellers with a nearly completed manuscript, planning to publish quickly. However, one small creative choice threatened both cost and timeline: including a copyrighted song lyric in a chapter.

Challenge

Securing rights for just one line of a popular song carried licensing fees of $1,200 and could delay the book’s release by at least three weeks due to permissions processing. For a time-sensitive business book tied to a speaking tour, this was risky.

Solution

Our team at Estorytellers guided the author to explore alternatives. Together, we identified a public-domain poem that captured the same theme without any licensing restrictions. We also coached the author on permissions basics for future works, ensuring they could confidently make similar decisions.

Outcome

By swapping the lyric for the poem, the author avoided $1,200 in fees and stayed on schedule for their launch. The substitution not only solved a legal problem but also elevated the book’s intellectual tone.

Key Takeaway

Even small copyright missteps can lead to major costs. With expert guidance from Estorytellers, authors can protect their creative vision while staying compliant and on budget.