Xixax Film Forum
Creative Corner => Filmmakers' Workshop => Topic started by: SubstanceD on February 20, 2003, 01:13:29 AM
I was wondering what the deal is if you were trying to adapt a film version of a classic (I.E. Shakespeare or Nathaniel Hawthrone). Do you need permission or are these stories public domain. I remember hearing something about statutes of Limitations, but I wonder about this. I mean, the coen brothers gave homer credit for O Brother Where art though, but I doubt they had to pay for the rights. Does anyone know about the legalities of these things?
Normal copyright law applies. The work, if published before 1978 is copyrighted for 95 from the time it was copyrighted. If after 1978, it's the author's life plus 70 years.
The Coen Brothers credited Homer as a tribute. They weren't under any obligation to do so.
So would I or wouldn't I need the rights to A work by an author such as Nathaniel hawthorne or Shakespeare. These guys have been dead for awhile now.
About the Homer thing, The movie was a loose adaptation so couldn't they have been sued, or are their no restrictions on material this old
QuoteSo would I or wouldn't I need the rights to A work by an author such as Nathaniel hawthorne or Shakespeare. These guys have been dead for awhile now.
Yes, their works would be fine to use.
Quote from: RaikusQuoteSo would I or wouldn't I need the rights to A work by an author such as Nathaniel hawthorne or Shakespeare. These guys have been dead for awhile now.
Yes, their works would be fine to use.
Oooo.. Hawthorne would be great to work from. It would be so much fun to adapt The Blithedale Romance into something even more insane.