Quoted from Ron Aberdeen Of course there is nothing to stop you from writing anything based on anything as long as you do so for yourself only and never show it or publish in anyway, even on a writer’s community website.

Hello Ron,

Are you saying its illegal to even post an adaptation here without optioning the rights?
Am I reading this correctly? Thanks for any clarification you can provide.

Regrads,
E.D.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Hello Ron, Are you saying its illegal to even post an adaptation here without optioning the rights? Am I reading this correctly? Thanks for any clarification you can provide. Regrads, E.D.

Let’s say for the sake of an argument you based your script on Harry Potter and published it on here or any site, JK Rowling would not hesitate to take you to court to protect the integrity of her creation.

And from what I know of her, she would, as would Warner Brothers. They have a commercial interest and right in keeping their product clean from amateurs messing up a multimillion dollar image they have invested millions in.

The same applies to lesser known and established products but it is still a risk if you touch any product from any source.

When you complete a script and post it on sites such as TriggerStreet or Zoetrope watch your reaction when people criticise your work or even make suggestions of how you could improve it, and your work won’t be an established commercial property.

Can't speak for Ron. But I can give you my opinion. I'm sober too. Makes a change.

Okay. Here's the thing. The movie business is, first and foremost, a business. It's there and still exists because movies can make money.

The old adage Time Is Money also applies here.

The main thing, the whole point, as far as the business side is concerned is the Bottom Line. As I'm fond of saying to macho blokes in pubs - It's always about the Money, Honey.

Fact is few care what any of us write about as long as it isn't for profit. They are hardly gonna spend time, effort and money issuing warrants and the like to somebody who posted a story based on another story. As long as it doesn't profit the writer or anyone else they don't care. Bigger fatter fish to fry.

Fan fiction usually gets ignored. The same ignorance applied to people who record television programmes and films from broadcasts. Technically they could sue. They don't. There's no point and there are too many people at it.

You can write what you like. But if it's gonna get filmed and there's money behind it you gotta play the game and get the rights right.

That's what I think. As Da Sock would say "Hope that helps."

R xo

I am making a screenplay adapted from a story I myself wrote. It is called VX Super Force. The script will be made soon along with another script.

Quoted from Ron Aberdeen Let’s say for the sake of an argument you based your script on Harry Potter and published it on here or any site, JK Rowling would not hesitate to take you to court to protect the integrity of her creation. And from what I know of her, she would, as would Warner Brothers. They have a commercial interest and right in keeping their product clean from amateurs messing up a multimillion dollar image they have invested millions in. The same applies to lesser known and established products but it is still a risk if you touch any product from any source. When you complete a script and post it on sites such as TriggerStreet or Zoetrope watch your reaction when people criticise your work or even make suggestions of how you could improve it, and your work won’t be an established commercial property.

I know this is old but in actuality they are more likely to issue a Cease and Desist order - if they cared.  Then you would take the script down with no court involved.    This is how copyrighted material is usually handled - except maybe for Disney.    

So the answer really is to write what you want but don't expect to sell it unless you have rights for it.  Also, if you post it, be prepared to take it down if there are any copyright complaints.  

Cornetto is right. Anyone can write whatever they want. You just can't make any money on other's work. That includes painting a picture of Mickey Mouse on your little building in a little town where you plan on open a little daycare center. (happened in my town. Disney was all over that one)

The biggest issue lately with scripts has been the trading of scripts for movies that haven't even come out yet. Like Fox suing that woman for 15M.

Quoted from Grandma Bear The biggest issue lately with scripts has been the trading of scripts for movies that haven't even come out yet. Like Fox suing that woman for 15M.

I have to side with Fox on that one.  The script is Fox's property.  If we, the little guys, want our rights protected against intellectual property theft, we have to support the same for the big guys.


Phil

Looks like nothing significant developing further in that case.
http://jathomaslaw.com/blog/?cat=5
Second entry.

Included are a few other industry articles of interest as well.


Here's a snarky (decent) argument about the the incorrect use of the fair-use act:
http://sites.google.com/site/2.....suitthatmakesnocents
Likely relevant in for this thread on derivative fan fic.

Quoted from RayW Looks like nothing significant developing further in that case.

These things take time.

http://sites.google.com/site/20thcenturyfoxversus10does/latest-news/mcilvaineanswers