Creating "worksheets" based on the principles in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

[Beisbol16]

Creating "worksheets" based on the principles in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Hi,
I want to create a website that offers worksheets based on the principles found in the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". While I realize I cannot directly copy or translate the book (or even parts of the book?), I do want to explore my legal boundaries. Can I refer to the book? If not, can I vaguely refer to the book? TIA!

 

[FlyingRon]

There's no amount of obfuscation that makes the misappropriation of copyrighted works legal.

You've got two problems here. First off, Seven Habits is trademarked. Franklin-Covey (the publisher which owns that mark) is HIGHLY LITIGIOUS by the way. Any remote indication that you are making something that infringes on their mark is going to likely merit legal action.

Second, is the copyright. While the "seven habits" aren't really protectable under the law, the actual expression of those is. If you verbatim take the habit descriptions, you're in trouble. If you merely paraphrase Covey's words, you're in trouble. You'd have to independently write prose that embodies the concepts of the habits and even then I'm not sure you wouldn't run afoul of consideration of it as a derivative work.

 

[xylene]

Make up your own drivel and you'll make more money.

 

[quincy]

Hi,
I want to create a website that offers worksheets based on the principles found in the book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". While I realize I cannot directly copy or translate the book (or even parts of the book?), I do want to explore my legal boundaries. Can I refer to the book? If not, can I vaguely refer to the book? TIA!

Are you located in the US, Beisbol16?

I agree with what has already been said but what is a protectable trademark in the US may not have equal protection in other countries.

In the US, referencing copyrighted texts can be doable, as can be including portions of these texts in your own writing. It is possible to use others' trademarks in a descriptive sense. But whenever you are handling rights-protected material belonging to someone else, you need to do so carefully.

Nothing can prevent someone from suing you over your published content but there are ways to make yourself less of an attractive target for a lawsuit. I recommend you either create content that is yours alone, as recommended by xylene, or have a publishing law professional personally review your content prior to publication to eliminate areas of greatest legal risk.

You will also want to have your site insured properly, in the event your content gives rise to a lawsuit despite your best efforts to avoid one.

You are smart to consider the legal aspects in advance.