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Is this okay with copyright laws?

by StevieT
10 replies
Hey everyone,

In a book I'm writing at the moment, I describe some exercises that I used in therapy with my psychologist. Now I know that he was using techniques that are described in cognitive therapy. So I guess someone may want to get credit for it. Am I breaching any copyright law if I describe them in my book? My book isn't build around those techniques only, but they are an important part of the process I describe.

Looking forward to read about your knowledge!
StevieT
#copyright #laws
  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Am I breaching any copyright law if I describe them in my book?
    Are they copyrighted?
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    • Profile picture of the author StevieT
      Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

      Are they copyrighted?
      Not sure, don't know where they came from..
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  • Profile picture of the author PLR Basket
    Originally Posted by StevieT View Post

    Hey everyone,

    In a book I'm writing at the moment, I describe some exercises that I used in therapy with my psychologist. Now I know that he was using techniques that are described in cognitive therapy. So I guess someone may want to get credit for it. Am I breaching any copyright law if I describe them in my book? My book isn't build around those techniques only, but they are an important part of the process I describe.

    Looking forward to read about your knowledge!
    StevieT
    Yes, the exercises might be copyrighted. You have to ask your psychologist where he got them from, they might be from a public domain source.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    Really no one here can give you a good answer. It may be a violation of copyright and it may not.
    Your best bet would be to ask a real lawyer about this if you are worried about it.

    Sorry can't help more.

    Mark
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Before you call anyone, I'd advise using google for a little while. Enter the name of or the main "form" of the exercise - in quotes - can be several words - and google it.

      Cognitive therapy is not new - there are many CT books - often with the same exercises described. If you find a general explanation/description of the exercises you did published in other articles or general text on multiple sites...it's probably an accepted, standard exercise used with cognitive therapy.

      If you are getting very specific, check with your psychologist and simply ask if describing your treatment in your writing is a problem or not. Chances are, it's not.

      I'm usually one to advise legal advice - but I think there other (less expensive) steps you could take in this case.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    Hi Stevie,

    So far, everyone here offering their opinion has got it wrong.

    Originally Posted by StevieT View Post

    In a book I'm writing at the moment, I describe some exercises that I used in therapy with my psychologist. Now I know that he was using techniques that are described in cognitive therapy. So I guess someone may want to get credit for it. Am I breaching any copyright law if I describe them in my book? My book isn't build around those techniques only, but they are an important part of the process I describe.
    Only the expression (i.e. in text, video, or illustration) of an idea, technique, process, etc. can be copyrighted... NOT the idea, technique, or process itself.

    That doesn't mean that there are no potential legal pitfalls to what you are wanting to do, but they would fall under patent law if they exist.

    Since I am not a lawyer... A brief (1 page), understandable description of the differences can be found at Trademark, Patent, or Copyright? | USPTO


    Guess what... Describing (in your own words) a medical or therapeutic procedure from your own first-hand experience of that procedure automatically confers copyright of that description upon YOU and it doesn't matter how many others may have written about that same procedure - as long as your description is in your own words!
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    • Profile picture of the author PLR Basket
      Originally Posted by Sid Hale View Post

      Hi Stevie,

      So far, everyone here offering their opinion has got it wrong.



      Only the expression (i.e. in text, video, or illustration) of an idea, technique, process, etc. can be copyrighted... NOT the idea, technique, or process itself.
      Well, if you read op's question correctly, he's actually writing a book using the techniques.
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by StevieT View Post

    Hey everyone,

    In a book I'm writing at the moment, I describe some exercises that I used in therapy with my psychologist. Now I know that he was using techniques that are described in cognitive therapy. So I guess someone may want to get credit for it. Am I breaching any copyright law if I describe them in my book? My book isn't build around those techniques only, but they are an important part of the process I describe.

    Looking forward to read about your knowledge!
    StevieT
    No, I wouldn't think so.. Copyright is usually relegated to "material" i.e. photographs, writings, titles etc..etc..

    Copyright an exercise ?? No. You may be able to Trademark the name of an exercise that you came up with.

    But NOT the actual exercise . You can't


    - Robert Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    Sid has a point, as long as you use your own words, you probably won't get sued!
    Such techniques were indeed "invented" by specialists over the years, but it's not like you're saying you're the one who came up with the idea!
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  • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
    ???? huh ????

    Originally Posted by PLR Basket View Post

    Well, if you read op's question correctly, he's actually writing a book using the techniques.
    No - I read fine, thanks.
    He's not using the techniques. He's writing a book describing the exercises.

    Originally Posted by StevieT View Post

    I describe some exercises that I used in therapy with my psychologist
    There's no "legalese" there. The two things are vastly different.

    Even if the exercises fall under patent law - no description of those (including the actual patent filing) is protected by that patent, nor by copyright law. Patent filings (again, if they even exist) are in the public record and copies can be obtained from the government for a fee.

    As I pointed out before:
    Only the expression (i.e. in text, video, or illustration) of an idea, technique, process, etc. can be copyrighted... NOT the idea, technique, or process itself.
    Copyright law does NOT cover the actual exercises, so as long as his description of 1) those exercises, 2) any benefits to be derived from using those exercises, 3) his own personal experiences when following the exercise regimen, etc. are written in his own words - that description would be an original work and the copyright for that work would lodge with himself.
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