Alright, so I'm adapting the Dan Brown book Lost Symbol into a script, but I do have a major question: Can I add dialogue from the book and if so how much should I add?

Thanks.

Add enough, keep what's memorable, and the rest, make it your own.

Thank you.

Columbia Pictures already own the rights to the book, and more importantly, they own the character Robert Langdon, the mystery-solving Harvard symbologist at the center of The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons and the new The Lost Symbol.

So using anything that is copyright content from the book is pointless, you cannot show your script to anyone and certainly cannot publish on any web site, so what’s the point?

Quoted from Ron Aberdeen Columbia Pictures already own the rights to the book, and more importantly, they own the character Robert Langdon, the mystery-solving Harvard symbologist at the center of The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons and the new The Lost Symbol. So using anything that is copyright content from the book is pointless, you cannot show your script to anyone and certainly cannot publish on any web site, so what’s the point?

I know it has no chance of getting picked up, that's not the plan for this one. And I have checked with some people who have said that if I'm just using it as a fan script, then it's fine.

So it's not fine to put it on SS?

Copyright protection is to prevent infringements and unauthorised use of the content of a copyrighted document.

I would be surprised if SS would publish it because in doing so they are in breach of the terms of copyright protection laws.

Ron - fan-fic scripts, using characters, stories and settings that are under copyright, are posted here all the time. Why? Presumably because no-one out there really cares. Otherwise it would no doubt not be allowed.

And Aaron: since you have plenty of ideas of your own, I'm just curious why you're not developing those instead? Your aim is to work in the industry...therefore, shouldn't your goal at this stage be starting to build up a body of work you can shop around and show off as your own?

Quoted from JonnyBoy And Aaron: since you have plenty of ideas of your own, I'm just curious why you're not developing those instead? Your aim is to work in the industry...therefore, shouldn't your goal at this stage be starting to build up a body of work you can shop around and show off as your own?

Yes, I'm working on multiple projects, all of which except for this one are my own.

This is completely off topic, but as it has been raised here and in other threads, I thought SS members might like to read the following, from a webpage called "10 Big Myths About Copyright Explained at http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

U.S. Copyright law is quite explicit that the making of what are called "derivative works" -- works based or derived from another copyrighted work -- is the exclusive province of the owner of the original work. This is true even though the making of these new works is a highly creative process. If you write a story using settings or characters from somebody else's work, you need that author's permission.

Yes, that means almost all "fan fiction" is arguably a copyright violation. If you want to publish a story about Jim Kirk and Mr. Spock, you need Paramount's permission, plain and simple. Now, as it turns out, many, but not all holders of popular copyrights turn a blind eye to "fan fiction" or even subtly encourage it because it helps them. Make no mistake, however, that it is entirely up to them whether to do that.

There is a major exception -- criticism and parody. The fair use provision says that if you want to make fun of something like Star Trek, you don't need their permission to include Mr. Spock. This is not a loophole; you can't just take a non-parody and claim it is one on a technicality. The way "fair use" works is you get sued for copyright infringement, and you admit you did copy, but that your copying was a fair use. A subjective judgment on, among other things, your goals, is then made.

However, it's also worth noting that a court has never ruled on this issue, because fan fiction cases always get settled quickly when the defendant is a fan of limited means sued by a powerful publishing company. Some argue that completely non-commercial fan fiction might be declared a fair use if courts get to decide.

Anyone can write anything they want. You can not however profit from using copyrighted work.

Aaron, why did you chose to adapt The Lost Symbols? I've read all of Dan Brown's books and this one didn't really work for me. It follows exactly the Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons in its structure. The only difference is the symbols.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Aaron, why did you chose to adapt The Lost Symbols? I've read all of Dan Brown's books and this one didn't really work for me. It follows exactly the Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons in its structure. The only difference is the symbols.

True, but the concept is interesting and I felt I could adapt it, and i found it a good read, personally.

Aaron, my friend, forget about these fanfic things.  Write your own work.  Don't waste your time on this kind of stuff.

I think we may have discussed this before.  All Dan Brown's stuff is verty difficult to adapt to the screen...and the first 2 already have been and this is sure to follow.