What allows song lyrics to be used as titles in someone else&#39;s work?
<p>My question was inspired by <a href="https://writers.stackexchange.com/questions/27568/can-i-can-legally-use-these-song-lyrics-as-book-chapter-names/27636#27636">this question</a> on Writers SE. There was a debate as to whether a person could use "non-generic" song lyrics as titles (e.g. for chapters) in their own work. One person opined (in comments) "I would not use, 1) 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand,' 2) 'Ticket to Ride' in such titles.</p>

<p>Yet, someone other than the Beatles produced a game called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_to_Ride_(board_game)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"Ticket to Ride"</a>. What allowed this? Did they get permission from the Beatles? Is it that titles are not copyrightable? Is it that the Beatles never trademarked their songs?</p>

<p>A short phrase like "Ticket to Ride" is probably not copyrightable. It could be a trademark <strong>but</strong> trademarks are product specific: the Beatle's Ticket to Ride is a song - it has no trade mark over board games, transport or any other product outside the music industry.</p>

copyright trademark