Once someone sends you a letter is it then your property to do with as you please?

Question

I am putting together a book containing letters, they are all going to be signed off the same way with no names but I am just curious if I need permission from the senders. Would like answers ASAP. Thanks

They were all addressed to me in response to care packages sent and again no names will be used.

Answer 1

As long as they are anonymous, you should have no problems. Also, as long as you attribute the words to another, you cannot be accused of plagiarism.

Answer 2

If it is addressed to you, then you don't need anyones permission, though you might let the people who sent them to you, what you are going to do with them. Could be that someone may not like having their letter published. Could cause them problems, depending on the content of the letter.
If they were not addressed to you, then you will need their permission. Written permission would be the best, being that they could come back at you and deny ever letting you use theirs.

Answer 3

It depends how you obtained the letters and under what premise people were sending these letters to you. Thus, it is best to get their permission. Discuss it with your publisher or lawyer.

Answer 4

As far as publishing legalities go, the authors of the letters must give approval.

Answer 5

of course you already own the letter, for it was already given to you.. however, you must remember that the person who wrote the letter also own the ideas he wrote.. you just have to remember that the letter itself is different from the idea on it.. and since you don't own the idea, you need the permission of the person who owns the idea in oder to publish it..

Answer 6

You dont need permission if it doesnt contain the authors name, unless the document is copywritten.

Answer 7

Anyone who writes anything, has copyright on the content. You own the physical letter, you do not own the copyright!