law

David Friedman’s battle with Amazon

This entry was posted in News Publishing and tagged Amazon KDP law on by

David Friedman is the son of economist Milton Friedman. While he isn’t as famous as his father was, he’s respected in libertarian circles. On November 8, he reported on his blog that Amazon has terminated his KDP account, taken his books offline, and denied him the right to collect outstanding royalties.

Update: Friedman reports Amazon has reinstated his account.

Apparently KDP, Amazon’s self-publishing arm, terminated my account in September, sending me a message I missed. They claim I had multiple accounts, why I have no idea, and also that “this account is related to an account that was terminated due to violations of our Content Guidelines.”

(more…)

Book discussion: Classified by David E. Bernstein

This entry was posted in Book discussion and tagged books history law on by

Cover, Classified by David BernsteinRace, we’re often told, is a social construct. Sometimes it’s even more arbitrary; it’s a government construct. Since the days of slavery, governmental units in the US have assigned people racial designations based on bizarre criteria. The civil rights era and the introduction of affirmative action only made it crazier. Iranians, Afghanis, and Arabs aren’t Asian, even though they’re mostly from Asia. Instead, they’re “white.” You can be from Spain, yet not be Hispanic. Native Hawaiians aren’t Native American. Members of recognized minority groups lobby to keep other people from being recognized as minority groups.

Official designations of racial and minority status in the United States are insane, but David E. Bernstein keeps a straight face as he documents them in Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America.
(more…)

Can freelance writers work in Lakeway, TX?

This entry was posted in Writing Writing as business and tagged business law writing on by

The Institute for Justice has launched a lawsuit against the city of Lakeway, Texas, over its heavy restrictions on home-based businesses. The business at the center of the controversy is a daycare center, but it got me wondering how freelance writers are affected. The city had nineteen criteria to be met, recently reduced to ten. I can’t find a full list, but the hints I’ve seen suggest that writers are OK in principle. Freelance writers don’t normally have customers come to their homes, make lots of noise, or emit clouds of toxic fumes.
(more…)

The state of business licensing for writers

This entry was posted in Writing Writing as business and tagged business law writing on by

Most writers are freelancers. In many places in the United States, you need the government’s permission, in the form of a business license, to be a freelance writer. Convincing the government to let you earn money writing generally requires paying money. This is a direct violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of the press. You aren’t free if you need to pay for permission to earn a living. Don’t count on the courts to agree with you, though.

If you choose to incorporate, that’s a separate issue; this article applies only to sole proprietorships. By definition, incorporation involves registration with a government office.

Zoning can be another concern. In some places, people aren’t allowed to operate a business from their home, even if it has no impact on anything beyond its walls. You can try to stay under the radar, but a neighbor could snitch on you. I don’t cover zoning issues here.

Some states require a license to operate any kind of business, but freelance writing may or may not be considered a “business” for that purpose. To a large extent, governments realize it would be bad publicity to ban people from writing or fine them for lack of permission, but it can happen. I’ve seen people say on freelancer boards that their state required them to get a license.

Corrections and additional information in the comments are welcome.
(more…)

A writer’s guide to freedom of speech and press in America

This entry was posted in Commentary and tagged copyright law liberty writing on by

People in the United States enjoy some of the strongest legal protections on their speech and writing in the world. Saying some things is illegal, though, and others open you to getting sued. There’s a lot of misinformation around on what is and isn’t considered free speech. Here’s a quick rundown of some common claims. US Constitution

Standard disclaimer: This isn’t legal advice. It’s my best understanding. See a lawyer when in doubt. In some cases, I’ve cited court cases you can look up and study.
(more…)