Article: "A Basic Guide to Getting Permissions + Sample Permissions Letter"

[Quantum]

It even has a neat flowchart for helping you evaluate what you might need to ask permission for. But:

"Sometimes, the best strategy is to avoid seeking permission in the first place. With a little editing or reworking, it may possible for you to abide by fair use guidelines; in such cases, you don’t have to seek permission. Ideas are not protected by copyright, but the expression of those ideas is protected. So, putting something in your own words or paraphrasing is usually okay, as long as it’s not too close to the way the original idea was expressed."

https://janefriedman.com/sample-permi...

[Krazykiwi]

Oj. That's dangerous advice out of context. This is more or less true in non-fiction contexts, but it'll land you in court if you try say, paraphrasing some Rolling Stones lyrics.

Fair use does not apply to commercial enterprises, other than these exceptions:

1- Transformative works. Where you are taking a work or part of a work and completely transforming it. Think variations of Andy Warhol's Marilyn paintings, but with Miss Piggy.

2- Parodies. (Actually the Miss Piggy example could probably be defensible under this one too.)

3- Criticism or commentary. You can quote a small amount of another work, if you are directly commenting or criticising it specifically (or if it's directly commenting on or criticising your work.)

"A slight reworking" to the point of paraphrase, is likely none of the above. It's certainly true for facts, and anyone who's done any academic writing will recognise the fine line you're straddling there. I love Jane Friedman, but be this is one where you really probably should go read the entire article. And if you're still not sure, ask for permission.

(I even have issues with the flowchart right in the first box: Plenty of people have been sued and/or fired from journalism jobs for plagiarism for quoting as short a snippet as a line from another work. and again, one line of lyrics is certainly enough to land you in trouble. The line of "how much" there is very fuzzy, and varies according to context every time it's tested in court.)