Can Microsoft Sue Me?

Am I legally allowed to create a book about Word, Excel, or Everquest (all Microsoft software products), include images of the software and write a guide covering every element of the software and then sell it? Obviously with the "Word is a registered trademark of Microsoft" or whatever.

I'm wondering since there's so many books on Amazon about these topics, but isn't it seen as profiting from anothers work? I'm sure every single one of these books didn't get any direct authorisation from Microsoft to publish them?

 

Call and ask them It would be best to get written permission from them.

 

I highly doubt you would need written permission from Chevrolet to write a book about "How to repair a Corvette" as long as you had some sort of disclaimer stating "The name Corvette is a registered Chevy trademark" or something to that effect .....
But then again, I am not a lawyer - so this does not constitute legal advice

 

As long as it is your original work and you are not copying theirs, you are fine. They will even help you with it since it increases the popularity of their product.

 

yea i dont think you need permission and i doubt they have copywrights on the WORD word come on now!

 

I sont think you really need permission. If you take for example the 1000s of microsoft related tutorials found on the net, I don't think the authors approached MS to ask for permission.

 

Well rule of thumb is "Any rich bastard" can sue u , so its better to ask first than be sorry latter.

 

I would bet they have a publishers guide to writing for MS products and that they would be glad to provide you a copy. It just seems logical.

 

Well not unless you rub them the wrong way. I donot think MS would have a problem with ur writing the book.

 

I would ask them, what have you got to lose?
If they say yes, then you know.
If they say no, then you know NOT to do it without having to lose time and money in production costs and lawyers.

 

Well, technically they're losing money as they sell official guides for products.

 

You can write as much text as you want about programs, certainly. As for screenshots, oddly enough it seems to be a shady legal area where no one is quite sure: www.jisclegal.ac.uk/publications/copyrightalexmorrisson.htm#Software (not linked because the forum says I don't have enough posts)

 

I meant that the thread starter can know that hes not allowed BEFORE Microsoft drop some lawyer letters on his desk and the thread owner having to see his own lawyer to see if they have a case.

 

I still think you should just ask I do not see what the problem is with asking before you put all the effort in to create this.