How to tell readers your story is a re-imagination of a popular story?
If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it? Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or would you put it in the preface. I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not. Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
fiction legal ethics
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
|
show 5 more comments
If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it? Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or would you put it in the preface. I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not. Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
fiction legal ethics
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
3
The same... But very different? Can you clarify?
– NofP
Feb 17 at 17:05
1
This is a very broad and vague question - please clarify.
– Rasdashan
Feb 17 at 17:45
4
Please wait a day or two before accepting a best answer. The goal here is to get as many answers as possible but many people will not bother if a best answer was already chosen. Galastel's answer is very good and you might choose it as best later on. But it's really unfair to accept a best answer when people are in the middle of writing their own, or for people who haven't even seen your question yet.
– Cyn
Feb 17 at 18:53
8
The Lion King is an Adaptation of Hamlet. Did you know that? Did they mention it?
– anon
Feb 18 at 20:18
4
"If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it?" Did West Side Story?
– jpmc26
Feb 18 at 20:56
|
show 5 more comments
If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it? Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or would you put it in the preface. I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not. Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
fiction legal ethics
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it? Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or would you put it in the preface. I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not. Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
fiction legal ethics
fiction legal ethics
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
edited Feb 17 at 18:37
Cyn
11.6k12559
11.6k12559
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
asked Feb 17 at 16:31
repomonsterrepomonster
993419
993419
3
The same... But very different? Can you clarify?
– NofP
Feb 17 at 17:05
1
This is a very broad and vague question - please clarify.
– Rasdashan
Feb 17 at 17:45
4
Please wait a day or two before accepting a best answer. The goal here is to get as many answers as possible but many people will not bother if a best answer was already chosen. Galastel's answer is very good and you might choose it as best later on. But it's really unfair to accept a best answer when people are in the middle of writing their own, or for people who haven't even seen your question yet.
– Cyn
Feb 17 at 18:53
8
The Lion King is an Adaptation of Hamlet. Did you know that? Did they mention it?
– anon
Feb 18 at 20:18
4
"If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it?" Did West Side Story?
– jpmc26
Feb 18 at 20:56
|
show 5 more comments
3
The same... But very different? Can you clarify?
– NofP
Feb 17 at 17:05
1
This is a very broad and vague question - please clarify.
– Rasdashan
Feb 17 at 17:45
4
Please wait a day or two before accepting a best answer. The goal here is to get as many answers as possible but many people will not bother if a best answer was already chosen. Galastel's answer is very good and you might choose it as best later on. But it's really unfair to accept a best answer when people are in the middle of writing their own, or for people who haven't even seen your question yet.
– Cyn
Feb 17 at 18:53
8
The Lion King is an Adaptation of Hamlet. Did you know that? Did they mention it?
– anon
Feb 18 at 20:18
4
"If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it?" Did West Side Story?
– jpmc26
Feb 18 at 20:56
3
3
The same... But very different? Can you clarify?
– NofP
Feb 17 at 17:05
The same... But very different? Can you clarify?
– NofP
Feb 17 at 17:05
1
1
This is a very broad and vague question - please clarify.
– Rasdashan
Feb 17 at 17:45
This is a very broad and vague question - please clarify.
– Rasdashan
Feb 17 at 17:45
4
4
Please wait a day or two before accepting a best answer. The goal here is to get as many answers as possible but many people will not bother if a best answer was already chosen. Galastel's answer is very good and you might choose it as best later on. But it's really unfair to accept a best answer when people are in the middle of writing their own, or for people who haven't even seen your question yet.
– Cyn
Feb 17 at 18:53
Please wait a day or two before accepting a best answer. The goal here is to get as many answers as possible but many people will not bother if a best answer was already chosen. Galastel's answer is very good and you might choose it as best later on. But it's really unfair to accept a best answer when people are in the middle of writing their own, or for people who haven't even seen your question yet.
– Cyn
Feb 17 at 18:53
8
8
The Lion King is an Adaptation of Hamlet. Did you know that? Did they mention it?
– anon
Feb 18 at 20:18
The Lion King is an Adaptation of Hamlet. Did you know that? Did they mention it?
– anon
Feb 18 at 20:18
4
4
"If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it?" Did West Side Story?
– jpmc26
Feb 18 at 20:56
"If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it?" Did West Side Story?
– jpmc26
Feb 18 at 20:56
|
show 5 more comments
7 Answers
7
active
oldest
votes
Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain. And it's not even the source material - Shakespeare borrowed the story from somewhere else, (Pyramus and Thysbe is one very similar story, and Ovid didn't invent it either) and retold it in the form of the famous play. That means you're free to rework the source material.
The same is true of common fairy tales, and for works that are in fact original, but already in the public domain. For example, Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book recently got retold by Neil Gaiman as The Graveyard Book. No mentions of the original - it's for the reader to figure it out. (Technically, he mentioned it in the Acknowledgements section, but that's not a legal requirement).
Retellings of older stories are common enough, and fall within the realm of intertextuality. That's when there is a strong relationship between two texts, and the latter is better understood in light of the former.
If you feel strongly that you should acknowledge the influence of another work on yours, you can always mention it in the Acknowledgement section in the end. But I do not recall James Joyce, for example, formally acknowledging that Ulysses is strongly connected to the Iliad. He expected readers to be smart enough to figure that out by themselves (from the title, for one thing).
Note that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain. If a work is not yet in the public domain, you can expect to beet accusations of plagiarism.
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
11
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
1
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
1
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
2
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
|
show 3 more comments
If your inspiration story is in the public domain (which all of Shakespeare is), you have no legal obligation to disclose your source material. Though with Shakespeare, people will of course figure it out.
The musical West Side Story is a well-known retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It was in fact pitched to producers as such and of course all the reviews mention it.
West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by
Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was inspired by
William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. (ref)
A 1961 movie poster doesn't mention R&J though (I can't read the fine print so maybe it's there).
If your inspiration story is not in the public domain, then you need permission from the copyright holders before you proceed. If they grant it, they will advise you on how to cite.
But what if your inspiration story is in the public domain but obscure? I would put it in the acknowledgments, if not the title page.
And if the story is not public domain but your inspiration is slight? That's the trickier one. The answer is "it depends." But err on the side of caution and get permission. Or change your story even more.
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
1
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
1
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
I would suggest you read this link (with actual lawyers responding).
Basically if you are not infringing on a copyright, you don't have to say anything. Your example of Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain; but for other works you MIGHT be infringing on a copyright. Here is the part of the 2nd answer at the link which provides detail:
By Pamela Koslyn, intellectual property rights attorney: Copyright infringement is a difficult concept and not easily explained in a forum like Avvo. Basically, courts will look at the total look and feel of two works, and compare how "substantially similar" they are. The entire work is considered, but its unprotectable elements get disregarded. Disregarded elements include themes, ideas, facts, and obligatory to the genre or cliche scenes , called "scenes a faire," such as doomed young lovers, with a scene of angry parents forbidding the love. The original creative elements, such as tone, setting, dialogue, characters, pace, etc. etc. are compared point by point, and if enough of them align, there's infringment, especially if you can also show access to the work. Where access is obvious because, in your example, "Harry Potter" is a famous published work, then the standards for similarity are lower, and where the access is questionable, more similarity is required to find infringement.
Plot points, or "beats" in tv-speak, are among the creative elements that can be infringed, so it's not true that plots aren't part of a what's protected in a work's copyright. [... more material by Ms. Koslyn clipped for brevity ...]
Ms. Koslyn's Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
As long as you're not committing flatout plagiarism, it's not strictly unethical to write a story that is inspired entirely or in part by another work.
It's no secret that character of Sherlock Holmes was influenced by Edger Allen Poe's C. Auguste Dupin. In fact if you read Scandal in Bohemia, you can see the similarities between Doyle's story and The Purloined Letter, which was published much earlier.
Using your example, Shakespearean works have inspired countless works.
Forbidden Planet - The Tempest.
The Lion King - Hamlet
A major storyline in Gargoyles was based on a reimagining of Macbeth.
No one flatout said The Lion King was inspired by Hamlet. But the story is still there and it's not a stretch to see where the inspiration came from.
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
2
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
1
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
1
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
Question is, why would you want to? (I'm ignoring copyright issues.)
If they are already familiar with the original story, they don't need to be told the relation because they should recognize it. If they don't know the original story, telling them doesn't provide them anything useful.
Good example: consider the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror". Does it add anything to the episode to make a point of saying it's a science-fiction version of the World War 2-set film The Enemy Below? Not really. Does it matter that a classic film like Forbidden Planet is an SF retelling of The Tempest? Not really.
The story should stand on its own. Mentioning the original inspiration seems to be almost saying to the reader "Hey, the stuff in here that doesn't make sense/seems dumb/you don't like? Don't blame me. It's the other writer's fault." On the other hand the risk is there that you could produce something really good and the readers give the credit to the older writer. After all, you're just the hack who changed the rabbit in the story to a smeerp, and the other guy did all the hard lifting.
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
add a comment |
As you have selected, it is not necessary to credit a story which is in the public domain. However, I notice that several of your questions have not been answered. I'll address them.
Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or
would you put it in the preface.
You certainly can mention it either way, even though you don't have to. As an example, if you want to tell the story on a Mars colony in the future, you could title it, "Romeo and Juliet and Olympus Mons", or something similar in order to pique the interest. A well-known and prolific SF author, David Drake, is famous for his retelling of historical battles in a far-future setting, and he has been very forthcoming in his forwards as to exactly when and where the original occurred.
I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer
or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not.
Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
Movies and TV are a somewhat different story. The industries are full of lawsuits about misappropriation of stories, and some of them have been quite successful. In general, a movie which actually uses an existing story will negotiate with the owners of the story and pay for the use. In such cases, no attribution is normally made. There are exceptions: "Breaker Morant" and "JFK" both included book credits at the end of the movie. But in general, it is not ethical (or legal) for a movie to make use of a non-public domain story without paying for it, let alone without giving credit.
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
add a comment |
I would like to suggest something else to consider.
Not the legal requirements, that is already covered off very well. What would your readers like? And even more what would your characters like? Something that could be useful in terms of advancing your material - is to have your characters have a degree of self awareness.
Depending on the nature of the story, working a little awareness of the classic scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet into the storyline in an internally consistent way could help things along a little bit. EG is poison or suicide a part of the plot line? Play on the similarity, by having your main characters be Shakespeare fans - or fans of any one of the remakes of that classic tale:
- West Side Story
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Grease (I personally have always thought this was a Romeo & Juliet story)- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Warm Bodies
According to this page:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/191916%7C0/Romeo-and-Juliet.html
there are more than 30 versions in the movies. This gives a wealth of material that will be very accessable to your characters, and that they could get a teeny bit obsessive over
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
1
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
add a comment |
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7 Answers
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7 Answers
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Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain. And it's not even the source material - Shakespeare borrowed the story from somewhere else, (Pyramus and Thysbe is one very similar story, and Ovid didn't invent it either) and retold it in the form of the famous play. That means you're free to rework the source material.
The same is true of common fairy tales, and for works that are in fact original, but already in the public domain. For example, Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book recently got retold by Neil Gaiman as The Graveyard Book. No mentions of the original - it's for the reader to figure it out. (Technically, he mentioned it in the Acknowledgements section, but that's not a legal requirement).
Retellings of older stories are common enough, and fall within the realm of intertextuality. That's when there is a strong relationship between two texts, and the latter is better understood in light of the former.
If you feel strongly that you should acknowledge the influence of another work on yours, you can always mention it in the Acknowledgement section in the end. But I do not recall James Joyce, for example, formally acknowledging that Ulysses is strongly connected to the Iliad. He expected readers to be smart enough to figure that out by themselves (from the title, for one thing).
Note that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain. If a work is not yet in the public domain, you can expect to beet accusations of plagiarism.
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
11
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
1
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
1
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
2
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
|
show 3 more comments
Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain. And it's not even the source material - Shakespeare borrowed the story from somewhere else, (Pyramus and Thysbe is one very similar story, and Ovid didn't invent it either) and retold it in the form of the famous play. That means you're free to rework the source material.
The same is true of common fairy tales, and for works that are in fact original, but already in the public domain. For example, Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book recently got retold by Neil Gaiman as The Graveyard Book. No mentions of the original - it's for the reader to figure it out. (Technically, he mentioned it in the Acknowledgements section, but that's not a legal requirement).
Retellings of older stories are common enough, and fall within the realm of intertextuality. That's when there is a strong relationship between two texts, and the latter is better understood in light of the former.
If you feel strongly that you should acknowledge the influence of another work on yours, you can always mention it in the Acknowledgement section in the end. But I do not recall James Joyce, for example, formally acknowledging that Ulysses is strongly connected to the Iliad. He expected readers to be smart enough to figure that out by themselves (from the title, for one thing).
Note that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain. If a work is not yet in the public domain, you can expect to beet accusations of plagiarism.
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
11
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
1
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
1
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
2
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
|
show 3 more comments
Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain. And it's not even the source material - Shakespeare borrowed the story from somewhere else, (Pyramus and Thysbe is one very similar story, and Ovid didn't invent it either) and retold it in the form of the famous play. That means you're free to rework the source material.
The same is true of common fairy tales, and for works that are in fact original, but already in the public domain. For example, Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book recently got retold by Neil Gaiman as The Graveyard Book. No mentions of the original - it's for the reader to figure it out. (Technically, he mentioned it in the Acknowledgements section, but that's not a legal requirement).
Retellings of older stories are common enough, and fall within the realm of intertextuality. That's when there is a strong relationship between two texts, and the latter is better understood in light of the former.
If you feel strongly that you should acknowledge the influence of another work on yours, you can always mention it in the Acknowledgement section in the end. But I do not recall James Joyce, for example, formally acknowledging that Ulysses is strongly connected to the Iliad. He expected readers to be smart enough to figure that out by themselves (from the title, for one thing).
Note that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain. If a work is not yet in the public domain, you can expect to beet accusations of plagiarism.
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain. And it's not even the source material - Shakespeare borrowed the story from somewhere else, (Pyramus and Thysbe is one very similar story, and Ovid didn't invent it either) and retold it in the form of the famous play. That means you're free to rework the source material.
The same is true of common fairy tales, and for works that are in fact original, but already in the public domain. For example, Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book recently got retold by Neil Gaiman as The Graveyard Book. No mentions of the original - it's for the reader to figure it out. (Technically, he mentioned it in the Acknowledgements section, but that's not a legal requirement).
Retellings of older stories are common enough, and fall within the realm of intertextuality. That's when there is a strong relationship between two texts, and the latter is better understood in light of the former.
If you feel strongly that you should acknowledge the influence of another work on yours, you can always mention it in the Acknowledgement section in the end. But I do not recall James Joyce, for example, formally acknowledging that Ulysses is strongly connected to the Iliad. He expected readers to be smart enough to figure that out by themselves (from the title, for one thing).
Note that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain. If a work is not yet in the public domain, you can expect to beet accusations of plagiarism.
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
edited Feb 18 at 15:59
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
answered Feb 17 at 18:40
GalastelGalastel
32.8k592173
32.8k592173
11
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
1
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
1
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
2
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
|
show 3 more comments
11
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
1
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
1
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
2
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
11
11
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
Plagiarism (the uncredited use of someone else's work) is not illegal, and applies to public domain works and Copyrighted works equally. Accusations of infringement are specific to Copyrighted works.
– ikegami
Feb 18 at 2:53
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
is the graveyard book really? I hadn't spotted it
– WendyG
Feb 18 at 9:51
1
1
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
I believe you have a single character typo in the last paragraph. You wrote "Not that all this is only true for works that are in the public domain." This has the exact opposite meaning of what I believe you intended, "Note that all this is only true..."
– Tashus
Feb 18 at 15:58
1
1
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
@Tashus good catch. Thanks!
– Galastel
Feb 18 at 15:59
2
2
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
Key thing to mention: Even if the original source material is in public domain, most of its other modern retellings are not. So, anything that is unique to a modern retelling that only exists in the modern movie but is not in the original source material will not be in the public domain. So, if you're going to base your story on something, make sure you base it on the original older source, and not some modern movie.
– Shufflepants
Feb 18 at 19:13
|
show 3 more comments
If your inspiration story is in the public domain (which all of Shakespeare is), you have no legal obligation to disclose your source material. Though with Shakespeare, people will of course figure it out.
The musical West Side Story is a well-known retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It was in fact pitched to producers as such and of course all the reviews mention it.
West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by
Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was inspired by
William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. (ref)
A 1961 movie poster doesn't mention R&J though (I can't read the fine print so maybe it's there).
If your inspiration story is not in the public domain, then you need permission from the copyright holders before you proceed. If they grant it, they will advise you on how to cite.
But what if your inspiration story is in the public domain but obscure? I would put it in the acknowledgments, if not the title page.
And if the story is not public domain but your inspiration is slight? That's the trickier one. The answer is "it depends." But err on the side of caution and get permission. Or change your story even more.
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
1
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
1
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
If your inspiration story is in the public domain (which all of Shakespeare is), you have no legal obligation to disclose your source material. Though with Shakespeare, people will of course figure it out.
The musical West Side Story is a well-known retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It was in fact pitched to producers as such and of course all the reviews mention it.
West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by
Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was inspired by
William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. (ref)
A 1961 movie poster doesn't mention R&J though (I can't read the fine print so maybe it's there).
If your inspiration story is not in the public domain, then you need permission from the copyright holders before you proceed. If they grant it, they will advise you on how to cite.
But what if your inspiration story is in the public domain but obscure? I would put it in the acknowledgments, if not the title page.
And if the story is not public domain but your inspiration is slight? That's the trickier one. The answer is "it depends." But err on the side of caution and get permission. Or change your story even more.
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
1
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
1
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
If your inspiration story is in the public domain (which all of Shakespeare is), you have no legal obligation to disclose your source material. Though with Shakespeare, people will of course figure it out.
The musical West Side Story is a well-known retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It was in fact pitched to producers as such and of course all the reviews mention it.
West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by
Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was inspired by
William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. (ref)
A 1961 movie poster doesn't mention R&J though (I can't read the fine print so maybe it's there).
If your inspiration story is not in the public domain, then you need permission from the copyright holders before you proceed. If they grant it, they will advise you on how to cite.
But what if your inspiration story is in the public domain but obscure? I would put it in the acknowledgments, if not the title page.
And if the story is not public domain but your inspiration is slight? That's the trickier one. The answer is "it depends." But err on the side of caution and get permission. Or change your story even more.
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
If your inspiration story is in the public domain (which all of Shakespeare is), you have no legal obligation to disclose your source material. Though with Shakespeare, people will of course figure it out.
The musical West Side Story is a well-known retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It was in fact pitched to producers as such and of course all the reviews mention it.
West Side Story is a musical with book by Arthur Laurents, music by
Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was inspired by
William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. (ref)
A 1961 movie poster doesn't mention R&J though (I can't read the fine print so maybe it's there).
If your inspiration story is not in the public domain, then you need permission from the copyright holders before you proceed. If they grant it, they will advise you on how to cite.
But what if your inspiration story is in the public domain but obscure? I would put it in the acknowledgments, if not the title page.
And if the story is not public domain but your inspiration is slight? That's the trickier one. The answer is "it depends." But err on the side of caution and get permission. Or change your story even more.
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
answered Feb 17 at 18:51
CynCyn
11.6k12559
11.6k12559
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
1
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
1
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
1
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
1
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
OP uses popular story, where it should be +/- public domain, +1
– Mazura
Feb 18 at 17:21
1
1
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
@Mazura Fair enough. Though making answers work for a slightly broader version of the same question is a good thing.
– Cyn
Feb 18 at 17:50
1
1
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
I would suggest you read this link (with actual lawyers responding).
Basically if you are not infringing on a copyright, you don't have to say anything. Your example of Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain; but for other works you MIGHT be infringing on a copyright. Here is the part of the 2nd answer at the link which provides detail:
By Pamela Koslyn, intellectual property rights attorney: Copyright infringement is a difficult concept and not easily explained in a forum like Avvo. Basically, courts will look at the total look and feel of two works, and compare how "substantially similar" they are. The entire work is considered, but its unprotectable elements get disregarded. Disregarded elements include themes, ideas, facts, and obligatory to the genre or cliche scenes , called "scenes a faire," such as doomed young lovers, with a scene of angry parents forbidding the love. The original creative elements, such as tone, setting, dialogue, characters, pace, etc. etc. are compared point by point, and if enough of them align, there's infringment, especially if you can also show access to the work. Where access is obvious because, in your example, "Harry Potter" is a famous published work, then the standards for similarity are lower, and where the access is questionable, more similarity is required to find infringement.
Plot points, or "beats" in tv-speak, are among the creative elements that can be infringed, so it's not true that plots aren't part of a what's protected in a work's copyright. [... more material by Ms. Koslyn clipped for brevity ...]
Ms. Koslyn's Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
I would suggest you read this link (with actual lawyers responding).
Basically if you are not infringing on a copyright, you don't have to say anything. Your example of Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain; but for other works you MIGHT be infringing on a copyright. Here is the part of the 2nd answer at the link which provides detail:
By Pamela Koslyn, intellectual property rights attorney: Copyright infringement is a difficult concept and not easily explained in a forum like Avvo. Basically, courts will look at the total look and feel of two works, and compare how "substantially similar" they are. The entire work is considered, but its unprotectable elements get disregarded. Disregarded elements include themes, ideas, facts, and obligatory to the genre or cliche scenes , called "scenes a faire," such as doomed young lovers, with a scene of angry parents forbidding the love. The original creative elements, such as tone, setting, dialogue, characters, pace, etc. etc. are compared point by point, and if enough of them align, there's infringment, especially if you can also show access to the work. Where access is obvious because, in your example, "Harry Potter" is a famous published work, then the standards for similarity are lower, and where the access is questionable, more similarity is required to find infringement.
Plot points, or "beats" in tv-speak, are among the creative elements that can be infringed, so it's not true that plots aren't part of a what's protected in a work's copyright. [... more material by Ms. Koslyn clipped for brevity ...]
Ms. Koslyn's Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
I would suggest you read this link (with actual lawyers responding).
Basically if you are not infringing on a copyright, you don't have to say anything. Your example of Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain; but for other works you MIGHT be infringing on a copyright. Here is the part of the 2nd answer at the link which provides detail:
By Pamela Koslyn, intellectual property rights attorney: Copyright infringement is a difficult concept and not easily explained in a forum like Avvo. Basically, courts will look at the total look and feel of two works, and compare how "substantially similar" they are. The entire work is considered, but its unprotectable elements get disregarded. Disregarded elements include themes, ideas, facts, and obligatory to the genre or cliche scenes , called "scenes a faire," such as doomed young lovers, with a scene of angry parents forbidding the love. The original creative elements, such as tone, setting, dialogue, characters, pace, etc. etc. are compared point by point, and if enough of them align, there's infringment, especially if you can also show access to the work. Where access is obvious because, in your example, "Harry Potter" is a famous published work, then the standards for similarity are lower, and where the access is questionable, more similarity is required to find infringement.
Plot points, or "beats" in tv-speak, are among the creative elements that can be infringed, so it's not true that plots aren't part of a what's protected in a work's copyright. [... more material by Ms. Koslyn clipped for brevity ...]
Ms. Koslyn's Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
I would suggest you read this link (with actual lawyers responding).
Basically if you are not infringing on a copyright, you don't have to say anything. Your example of Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain; but for other works you MIGHT be infringing on a copyright. Here is the part of the 2nd answer at the link which provides detail:
By Pamela Koslyn, intellectual property rights attorney: Copyright infringement is a difficult concept and not easily explained in a forum like Avvo. Basically, courts will look at the total look and feel of two works, and compare how "substantially similar" they are. The entire work is considered, but its unprotectable elements get disregarded. Disregarded elements include themes, ideas, facts, and obligatory to the genre or cliche scenes , called "scenes a faire," such as doomed young lovers, with a scene of angry parents forbidding the love. The original creative elements, such as tone, setting, dialogue, characters, pace, etc. etc. are compared point by point, and if enough of them align, there's infringment, especially if you can also show access to the work. Where access is obvious because, in your example, "Harry Potter" is a famous published work, then the standards for similarity are lower, and where the access is questionable, more similarity is required to find infringement.
Plot points, or "beats" in tv-speak, are among the creative elements that can be infringed, so it's not true that plots aren't part of a what's protected in a work's copyright. [... more material by Ms. Koslyn clipped for brevity ...]
Ms. Koslyn's Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
answered Feb 17 at 19:34
AmadeusAmadeus
51.5k465166
51.5k465166
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
Interesting answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
As long as you're not committing flatout plagiarism, it's not strictly unethical to write a story that is inspired entirely or in part by another work.
It's no secret that character of Sherlock Holmes was influenced by Edger Allen Poe's C. Auguste Dupin. In fact if you read Scandal in Bohemia, you can see the similarities between Doyle's story and The Purloined Letter, which was published much earlier.
Using your example, Shakespearean works have inspired countless works.
Forbidden Planet - The Tempest.
The Lion King - Hamlet
A major storyline in Gargoyles was based on a reimagining of Macbeth.
No one flatout said The Lion King was inspired by Hamlet. But the story is still there and it's not a stretch to see where the inspiration came from.
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
2
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
1
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
1
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
As long as you're not committing flatout plagiarism, it's not strictly unethical to write a story that is inspired entirely or in part by another work.
It's no secret that character of Sherlock Holmes was influenced by Edger Allen Poe's C. Auguste Dupin. In fact if you read Scandal in Bohemia, you can see the similarities between Doyle's story and The Purloined Letter, which was published much earlier.
Using your example, Shakespearean works have inspired countless works.
Forbidden Planet - The Tempest.
The Lion King - Hamlet
A major storyline in Gargoyles was based on a reimagining of Macbeth.
No one flatout said The Lion King was inspired by Hamlet. But the story is still there and it's not a stretch to see where the inspiration came from.
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
2
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
1
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
1
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
As long as you're not committing flatout plagiarism, it's not strictly unethical to write a story that is inspired entirely or in part by another work.
It's no secret that character of Sherlock Holmes was influenced by Edger Allen Poe's C. Auguste Dupin. In fact if you read Scandal in Bohemia, you can see the similarities between Doyle's story and The Purloined Letter, which was published much earlier.
Using your example, Shakespearean works have inspired countless works.
Forbidden Planet - The Tempest.
The Lion King - Hamlet
A major storyline in Gargoyles was based on a reimagining of Macbeth.
No one flatout said The Lion King was inspired by Hamlet. But the story is still there and it's not a stretch to see where the inspiration came from.
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
As long as you're not committing flatout plagiarism, it's not strictly unethical to write a story that is inspired entirely or in part by another work.
It's no secret that character of Sherlock Holmes was influenced by Edger Allen Poe's C. Auguste Dupin. In fact if you read Scandal in Bohemia, you can see the similarities between Doyle's story and The Purloined Letter, which was published much earlier.
Using your example, Shakespearean works have inspired countless works.
Forbidden Planet - The Tempest.
The Lion King - Hamlet
A major storyline in Gargoyles was based on a reimagining of Macbeth.
No one flatout said The Lion King was inspired by Hamlet. But the story is still there and it's not a stretch to see where the inspiration came from.
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
answered Feb 17 at 19:48
TheWolfEmperorTheWolfEmperor
1214
1214
2
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
1
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
1
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
2
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
1
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
1
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
2
2
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
However, there are people who flat-out say that The Lion King was stolen from a Japanese anime, and quite a few more who don't flat-out say it, but do suggest that the two works are eerily similar.
– EvilSnack
Feb 17 at 22:52
1
1
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
And a couple of Holmes stories got retold with a twist by Agatha Christie, to name some more prominent examples.
– Gnudiff
Feb 18 at 7:57
1
1
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
Thank you for your answer.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
add a comment |
Question is, why would you want to? (I'm ignoring copyright issues.)
If they are already familiar with the original story, they don't need to be told the relation because they should recognize it. If they don't know the original story, telling them doesn't provide them anything useful.
Good example: consider the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror". Does it add anything to the episode to make a point of saying it's a science-fiction version of the World War 2-set film The Enemy Below? Not really. Does it matter that a classic film like Forbidden Planet is an SF retelling of The Tempest? Not really.
The story should stand on its own. Mentioning the original inspiration seems to be almost saying to the reader "Hey, the stuff in here that doesn't make sense/seems dumb/you don't like? Don't blame me. It's the other writer's fault." On the other hand the risk is there that you could produce something really good and the readers give the credit to the older writer. After all, you're just the hack who changed the rabbit in the story to a smeerp, and the other guy did all the hard lifting.
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
add a comment |
Question is, why would you want to? (I'm ignoring copyright issues.)
If they are already familiar with the original story, they don't need to be told the relation because they should recognize it. If they don't know the original story, telling them doesn't provide them anything useful.
Good example: consider the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror". Does it add anything to the episode to make a point of saying it's a science-fiction version of the World War 2-set film The Enemy Below? Not really. Does it matter that a classic film like Forbidden Planet is an SF retelling of The Tempest? Not really.
The story should stand on its own. Mentioning the original inspiration seems to be almost saying to the reader "Hey, the stuff in here that doesn't make sense/seems dumb/you don't like? Don't blame me. It's the other writer's fault." On the other hand the risk is there that you could produce something really good and the readers give the credit to the older writer. After all, you're just the hack who changed the rabbit in the story to a smeerp, and the other guy did all the hard lifting.
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
add a comment |
Question is, why would you want to? (I'm ignoring copyright issues.)
If they are already familiar with the original story, they don't need to be told the relation because they should recognize it. If they don't know the original story, telling them doesn't provide them anything useful.
Good example: consider the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror". Does it add anything to the episode to make a point of saying it's a science-fiction version of the World War 2-set film The Enemy Below? Not really. Does it matter that a classic film like Forbidden Planet is an SF retelling of The Tempest? Not really.
The story should stand on its own. Mentioning the original inspiration seems to be almost saying to the reader "Hey, the stuff in here that doesn't make sense/seems dumb/you don't like? Don't blame me. It's the other writer's fault." On the other hand the risk is there that you could produce something really good and the readers give the credit to the older writer. After all, you're just the hack who changed the rabbit in the story to a smeerp, and the other guy did all the hard lifting.
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
Question is, why would you want to? (I'm ignoring copyright issues.)
If they are already familiar with the original story, they don't need to be told the relation because they should recognize it. If they don't know the original story, telling them doesn't provide them anything useful.
Good example: consider the Star Trek episode "Balance of Terror". Does it add anything to the episode to make a point of saying it's a science-fiction version of the World War 2-set film The Enemy Below? Not really. Does it matter that a classic film like Forbidden Planet is an SF retelling of The Tempest? Not really.
The story should stand on its own. Mentioning the original inspiration seems to be almost saying to the reader "Hey, the stuff in here that doesn't make sense/seems dumb/you don't like? Don't blame me. It's the other writer's fault." On the other hand the risk is there that you could produce something really good and the readers give the credit to the older writer. After all, you're just the hack who changed the rabbit in the story to a smeerp, and the other guy did all the hard lifting.
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
answered Feb 19 at 23:45
Keith MorrisonKeith Morrison
80914
80914
add a comment |
add a comment |
As you have selected, it is not necessary to credit a story which is in the public domain. However, I notice that several of your questions have not been answered. I'll address them.
Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or
would you put it in the preface.
You certainly can mention it either way, even though you don't have to. As an example, if you want to tell the story on a Mars colony in the future, you could title it, "Romeo and Juliet and Olympus Mons", or something similar in order to pique the interest. A well-known and prolific SF author, David Drake, is famous for his retelling of historical battles in a far-future setting, and he has been very forthcoming in his forwards as to exactly when and where the original occurred.
I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer
or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not.
Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
Movies and TV are a somewhat different story. The industries are full of lawsuits about misappropriation of stories, and some of them have been quite successful. In general, a movie which actually uses an existing story will negotiate with the owners of the story and pay for the use. In such cases, no attribution is normally made. There are exceptions: "Breaker Morant" and "JFK" both included book credits at the end of the movie. But in general, it is not ethical (or legal) for a movie to make use of a non-public domain story without paying for it, let alone without giving credit.
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
add a comment |
As you have selected, it is not necessary to credit a story which is in the public domain. However, I notice that several of your questions have not been answered. I'll address them.
Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or
would you put it in the preface.
You certainly can mention it either way, even though you don't have to. As an example, if you want to tell the story on a Mars colony in the future, you could title it, "Romeo and Juliet and Olympus Mons", or something similar in order to pique the interest. A well-known and prolific SF author, David Drake, is famous for his retelling of historical battles in a far-future setting, and he has been very forthcoming in his forwards as to exactly when and where the original occurred.
I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer
or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not.
Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
Movies and TV are a somewhat different story. The industries are full of lawsuits about misappropriation of stories, and some of them have been quite successful. In general, a movie which actually uses an existing story will negotiate with the owners of the story and pay for the use. In such cases, no attribution is normally made. There are exceptions: "Breaker Morant" and "JFK" both included book credits at the end of the movie. But in general, it is not ethical (or legal) for a movie to make use of a non-public domain story without paying for it, let alone without giving credit.
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
add a comment |
As you have selected, it is not necessary to credit a story which is in the public domain. However, I notice that several of your questions have not been answered. I'll address them.
Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or
would you put it in the preface.
You certainly can mention it either way, even though you don't have to. As an example, if you want to tell the story on a Mars colony in the future, you could title it, "Romeo and Juliet and Olympus Mons", or something similar in order to pique the interest. A well-known and prolific SF author, David Drake, is famous for his retelling of historical battles in a far-future setting, and he has been very forthcoming in his forwards as to exactly when and where the original occurred.
I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer
or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not.
Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
Movies and TV are a somewhat different story. The industries are full of lawsuits about misappropriation of stories, and some of them have been quite successful. In general, a movie which actually uses an existing story will negotiate with the owners of the story and pay for the use. In such cases, no attribution is normally made. There are exceptions: "Breaker Morant" and "JFK" both included book credits at the end of the movie. But in general, it is not ethical (or legal) for a movie to make use of a non-public domain story without paying for it, let alone without giving credit.
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
As you have selected, it is not necessary to credit a story which is in the public domain. However, I notice that several of your questions have not been answered. I'll address them.
Also, do you mention it in the title that's it's a reimagining, or
would you put it in the preface.
You certainly can mention it either way, even though you don't have to. As an example, if you want to tell the story on a Mars colony in the future, you could title it, "Romeo and Juliet and Olympus Mons", or something similar in order to pique the interest. A well-known and prolific SF author, David Drake, is famous for his retelling of historical battles in a far-future setting, and he has been very forthcoming in his forwards as to exactly when and where the original occurred.
I see it a lot in movies, but sometimes, they don't put any disclaimer
or anything, and sometimes it's in the title and sometimes it's not.
Is there a guideline on how to inform your readers in an ethical way?
Movies and TV are a somewhat different story. The industries are full of lawsuits about misappropriation of stories, and some of them have been quite successful. In general, a movie which actually uses an existing story will negotiate with the owners of the story and pay for the use. In such cases, no attribution is normally made. There are exceptions: "Breaker Morant" and "JFK" both included book credits at the end of the movie. But in general, it is not ethical (or legal) for a movie to make use of a non-public domain story without paying for it, let alone without giving credit.
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
answered Feb 18 at 6:40
WhatRoughBeastWhatRoughBeast
2914
2914
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
add a comment |
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
Thanks, great info dump!
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:36
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
There's an animated story about androids called en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romie-0_and_Julie-8. The title makes the source material very clear.
– Shawn V. Wilson
Feb 21 at 23:58
add a comment |
I would like to suggest something else to consider.
Not the legal requirements, that is already covered off very well. What would your readers like? And even more what would your characters like? Something that could be useful in terms of advancing your material - is to have your characters have a degree of self awareness.
Depending on the nature of the story, working a little awareness of the classic scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet into the storyline in an internally consistent way could help things along a little bit. EG is poison or suicide a part of the plot line? Play on the similarity, by having your main characters be Shakespeare fans - or fans of any one of the remakes of that classic tale:
- West Side Story
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Grease (I personally have always thought this was a Romeo & Juliet story)- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Warm Bodies
According to this page:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/191916%7C0/Romeo-and-Juliet.html
there are more than 30 versions in the movies. This gives a wealth of material that will be very accessable to your characters, and that they could get a teeny bit obsessive over
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
1
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
add a comment |
I would like to suggest something else to consider.
Not the legal requirements, that is already covered off very well. What would your readers like? And even more what would your characters like? Something that could be useful in terms of advancing your material - is to have your characters have a degree of self awareness.
Depending on the nature of the story, working a little awareness of the classic scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet into the storyline in an internally consistent way could help things along a little bit. EG is poison or suicide a part of the plot line? Play on the similarity, by having your main characters be Shakespeare fans - or fans of any one of the remakes of that classic tale:
- West Side Story
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Grease (I personally have always thought this was a Romeo & Juliet story)- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Warm Bodies
According to this page:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/191916%7C0/Romeo-and-Juliet.html
there are more than 30 versions in the movies. This gives a wealth of material that will be very accessable to your characters, and that they could get a teeny bit obsessive over
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
1
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
add a comment |
I would like to suggest something else to consider.
Not the legal requirements, that is already covered off very well. What would your readers like? And even more what would your characters like? Something that could be useful in terms of advancing your material - is to have your characters have a degree of self awareness.
Depending on the nature of the story, working a little awareness of the classic scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet into the storyline in an internally consistent way could help things along a little bit. EG is poison or suicide a part of the plot line? Play on the similarity, by having your main characters be Shakespeare fans - or fans of any one of the remakes of that classic tale:
- West Side Story
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Grease (I personally have always thought this was a Romeo & Juliet story)- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Warm Bodies
According to this page:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/191916%7C0/Romeo-and-Juliet.html
there are more than 30 versions in the movies. This gives a wealth of material that will be very accessable to your characters, and that they could get a teeny bit obsessive over
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
I would like to suggest something else to consider.
Not the legal requirements, that is already covered off very well. What would your readers like? And even more what would your characters like? Something that could be useful in terms of advancing your material - is to have your characters have a degree of self awareness.
Depending on the nature of the story, working a little awareness of the classic scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet into the storyline in an internally consistent way could help things along a little bit. EG is poison or suicide a part of the plot line? Play on the similarity, by having your main characters be Shakespeare fans - or fans of any one of the remakes of that classic tale:
- West Side Story
- William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet
Grease (I personally have always thought this was a Romeo & Juliet story)- Gnomeo & Juliet
- Warm Bodies
According to this page:
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/191916%7C0/Romeo-and-Juliet.html
there are more than 30 versions in the movies. This gives a wealth of material that will be very accessable to your characters, and that they could get a teeny bit obsessive over
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
answered Feb 19 at 1:34
kiltannenkiltannen
24316
24316
1
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
add a comment |
1
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
1
1
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Thanks, very informative.
– repomonster
Feb 19 at 1:35
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
Notably, West Side Story has a balcony scene, very similar to the source material...
– Galastel
Feb 19 at 1:38
add a comment |
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3
The same... But very different? Can you clarify?
– NofP
Feb 17 at 17:05
1
This is a very broad and vague question - please clarify.
– Rasdashan
Feb 17 at 17:45
4
Please wait a day or two before accepting a best answer. The goal here is to get as many answers as possible but many people will not bother if a best answer was already chosen. Galastel's answer is very good and you might choose it as best later on. But it's really unfair to accept a best answer when people are in the middle of writing their own, or for people who haven't even seen your question yet.
– Cyn
Feb 17 at 18:53
8
The Lion King is an Adaptation of Hamlet. Did you know that? Did they mention it?
– anon
Feb 18 at 20:18
4
"If for example, I were to rewrite a story heavily inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but placed it in a complete different setting. Do you have to say it?" Did West Side Story?
– jpmc26
Feb 18 at 20:56