Is it acceptable to use terminology that was invented by and/or heavily associated with other authors and if yes, what are the rules of doing so? I ask because I've got a few concepts in various WIPs that I need colloquial terms for but all the good options for said concepts have already been used by other people and I'm worried that people might object if I copy them.
Okay, the main one that's an issue at the moment is what to call someone who acts as an AI's hands/general proxy in the physical world. "Proxy" is too generic and generally blah for my liking and the best options I can come up with are "brawn" (informal/colloquial) and a few possibilities involving the word "interface" (the more technical terms). Problem is that the former is heavily associated with Ann McCaffrey's Brainship series and the latter is directly inspired by Person of Interest.
Firstly, there aren't too many ways to name a concept. If every author had to invent a new term for something, they would soon run out of words. The word "robot" was invented by Karel Čapek, and Isaac Asimov used it a lot, and many writers after him. I don't think anyone finds it objectionable. Secondly, if another writer, such as Anne McCaffrey in the example you brought, has invented a really cool word and you want to give her credit, you can make your characters say something to the effect that this was a term invented in the late 20th century or something, possibly even mentioning the writer when it seems appropriate in the context of your plot, implying that in the past of your novel's events, Mrs. McCaffrey's book has become very popular and that word invented by her has become a commonly used technical term.
