Comments on: When A Film Is In The Public Domain, Is The Screenplay In The Public Domain Too? http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/ Tips, Tricks, & Hidden Resources For Using Copyright-FREE Public Domain Content To Create Profitable Products Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:30:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Debra http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-27227 Debra Sun, 03 Apr 2011 19:00:26 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-27227 Hi Deborah, You can compile anything as long as it was published somewhere and is Public Domain. Images from the Internet must also be public domain.... or you might be able to use them as "Fair Use". Debra Hi Deborah,

You can compile anything as long as it was published somewhere and is Public Domain.

Images from the Internet must also be public domain…. or you might be able to use them as “Fair Use”.

Debra

]]> By: Deborah http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-27187 Deborah Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:35:10 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-27187 Hi, do you know if it's possible if I can compile purposely written stories from fans of a deceased famous person, who they were inspired by, into a book? Do I need permission from the celebritie's family and also, can I include images from the internet of this famous person? Many thanks. Deborah Hi, do you know if it’s possible if I can compile purposely written stories from fans of a deceased famous person, who they were inspired by, into a book? Do I need permission from the celebritie’s family and also, can I include images from the internet of this famous person? Many thanks. Deborah

]]> By: Working With Public Domain Films and Film Posters http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-11464 Working With Public Domain Films and Film Posters Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:29:51 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-11464 [...] When A Film Is In The Public Domain, Is The Screenplay In The Public Domain Too? [...] [...] When A Film Is In The Public Domain, Is The Screenplay In The Public Domain Too? [...]

]]> By: Logan http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-11459 Logan Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:51:30 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-11459 Hi there Pete, Thanks for the interesting comment ~ it's more of a statement than a question so I assume you are looking to validate your thinking. You're right of course ~ with the author being British (and with the story presumeably published in the U.K. originally) the story wouldn't be Public Domain in the U.K. and other membering countries of the European Union until 70 years after the authors death. The copyright on this story wouldn't expire in the U.K. until 2022 (if we roll to end of the calendar year). And you're also correct about being able to adapt the story into a screenplay here in the U.S. as being published in 1907, it's clearly already in the Public Domain here. Let's say your newly adapted screenplay got picked up by a production house (sweet!) ~ if they planned on distributing the film worldwide (which would almost certainly be the case), then the estate of the original author would need to be contacted for permission to do so which would most likely lead to having to pay for the rights but again as you said, the production company would negotiate the deal and buy the rights after they've already bought the rights to film the screenplay from you. In other words, let them work out the details of obtaining rights and such, you just go get busy and write your screenplay in confidence that you have the full legal right to do so. Thanks Pete! Logan Hi there Pete,

Thanks for the interesting comment ~ it’s more of a statement than a question so I assume you are looking to validate your thinking.

You’re right of course ~ with the author being British (and with the story presumeably published in the U.K. originally) the story wouldn’t be Public Domain in the U.K. and other membering countries of the European Union until 70 years after the authors death. The copyright on this story wouldn’t expire in the U.K. until 2022 (if we roll to end of the calendar year).

And you’re also correct about being able to adapt the story into a screenplay here in the U.S. as being published in 1907, it’s clearly already in the Public Domain here.

Let’s say your newly adapted screenplay got picked up by a production house (sweet!) ~ if they planned on distributing the film worldwide (which would almost certainly be the case), then the estate of the original author would need to be contacted for permission to do so which would most likely lead to having to pay for the rights but again as you said, the production company would negotiate the deal and buy the rights after they’ve already bought the rights to film the screenplay from you.

In other words, let them work out the details of obtaining rights and such, you just go get busy and write your screenplay in confidence that you have the full legal right to do so.

Thanks Pete!
Logan

]]> By: pete http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-11458 pete Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:29:33 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-11458 Hi Logan, I'd like to adapt a short story listed in Project Gutenberg into a film script. The author is British, died in 1951. The story is copyrighted 1907. I'm in the U.S. and would like to market my script adaptation to film producers. I'm concerned about British copyright, though. It may only serve as a writing sample, but there's also the possibility of somebody wanting to film it. I thought that if I was free to adapt it here, and if the producers wanted buy it outright for production, they could negotiate the British rights. Thank you. Hi Logan,
I’d like to adapt a short story listed in Project Gutenberg into a film script. The author is British, died in 1951. The story is copyrighted 1907. I’m in the U.S. and would like to market my script adaptation to film producers. I’m concerned about British copyright, though. It may only serve as a writing sample, but there’s also the possibility of somebody wanting to film it. I thought that if I was free to adapt it here, and if the producers wanted buy it outright for production, they could negotiate the British rights. Thank you.

]]> By: Logan http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-9523 Logan Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:49:54 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-9523 Hi Tony, Sounds like an interesting project. If the movie was based on a book, then yes, you would need to check the copyright status of the book that the movie was based upon. The danger of course is that you can't tell whether or not the dialogue in the movie was taken directly from the book without checking it out yourself. Good luck! Hi Tony,

Sounds like an interesting project.

If the movie was based on a book, then yes, you would need to check the copyright status of the book that the movie was based upon. The danger of course is that you can’t tell whether or not the dialogue in the movie was taken directly from the book without checking it out yourself.

Good luck!

]]> By: Tony Hill http://www.publicdomaintreasurehunter.com/2009/07/16/when-a-film-is-in-the-public-domain-is-the-screenplay-in-the-public-domain-too/comment-page-1/#comment-9517 Tony Hill Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:24:52 +0000 http://www.piratesofthepublicdomain.com/?p=2369#comment-9517 Hello, I am looking to write a book based solely on the dialogue from a film in the public domain. Can you tell me if I still need to check if the original book (if there was one) is in the public domain. Thanks Hello,
I am looking to write a book based solely on the dialogue from a film in the public domain.
Can you tell me if I still need to check if the original book (if there was one) is in the public domain.
Thanks

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