Book Titles

[lankeela]

Is there a list of them anywhere to prevent someone else calling their book the same name? Or could anyone name their book the same as one already written?

[Ken4155]

As far as i know, there is nothing to prevent an author using a title for a book that has already been used.

[lankeela]

Patent is the word I have been trying to remember! Not quite the same meaning but you know the sort of thing.

[barry1010]

There are many, many books that have the same title as another. It can get confusing

[ichkeria]

A couple of years back I bought the wrong "Power of the Dog" on Amazon. I had intended to buy the Don Winslow one and ended up with the Thomas Savage book (which I think has since been made into a film)

[THECORBYLOON]

I think you mean "trademark" rather than "patent" since the latter relates to something new which can be produced and also either a technical process or a method of doing something.

[Canary42]

Surely it's copyright, not patent or trademark.

[Ken4155]

I don't believe titles come under the rules of plagiarism..

[lankeela]

Yes copyright would be a better description.

[Buenchico]

Quote:
"The UK courts have on several occasions held that there is no copyright in a name, a single word or title as they are not long enough to constitute a literary work".

Source:
https://www.emwa.org/Documents/JournalArticles/JA_V16_I4_Heywood1.pdf

By law though, a copy of every book published in the UK has to be sent to the British Library. So a search of the Library's catalogue would usually be sufficient to see whether a title has already been used: http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=BLVU1

[lankeela]

Thanks Chris, I wondered if there was a record or register of titles somewhere.

[Peter Pedant]

Incredz - there is a book by Philip Newman Safer than a known way - about Dr Newman's adventures as a POW in Germany and escapee

there is another different book by a Philip Newman - safer than a known way who writes about his time in Japan as a FEPOW.

I know because ma daydy is mentioned in the first book ( unsuccessful escaper) - and to my surprise found I had bought the second book title abou Japan !
(They gave me my money back and said 'wow')

[Peter Pedant]

oops barry and itch,
I thought I was the only one

[Peter Pedant]

there is a third Dr Philip Newman who is neither
( because I asked him, )