Disney would have to have some cause for action, and re-telling the Cinderella story wouldn't be it (as it's been done before without a lawsuit). The law does have some protections against frivolous suits as well.
As for the RIAA, while there have been stories of unsupported claims, most of the file-sharing cases I've looked at are not only at least minimally supported, but are often quite well supported.
The Thomas-Rasset case is a telling one: the jury found, and after reading many of the documents in the case I would agree, that she engaged in illegal file sharing and when caught, not only denied it (repeatedly, with changing stories, through two trials) but most likely destroyed evidence to hide her activities.
You are correct that the copyright notice in this Oxford edition of the play should have been worded more precisely, but much of the content of this book what looks like original commentary on the play (each page of the play is presented with lots of commentary and definitions), which are copyrightable.
The actual text of the play is not copyrightable (and the copyright notice should have spelled this out), but the presentation may be.
I'd bet I'd be just fine, either in print or in film. Disney doesn't own or control the stories or the characters (though they do control the specific images of those characters as depicted in their films and other publications).
Since the basic story was mythical and hundreds of years old, the other published versions would have likely survived a modern copyright challenge as well, unless they blatantly lifted text from something that would have been protected.
Cute article, but it overstates its case by a wide margin. Since the story of King Lear is based on old Celtic myths, widely known at the time, the basic story and the characters would not have been subject to copyright.
It was also a popular story, as evidenced by the many writers at the time who published different versions of the tale. As long as Shakespeare's expression of the story was unique, there would likely have been little to sue over.
Re: Re: "Study measure expenditures, not consumption"
As the article Mike linked to noted, not all video games can be pirated (though clearly many can). I would also point out that music is generally easier to copy.
Then again, as Mike is fond of pointing out, perhaps the gaming industry has given gamers a "reason to buy".
The theory is fine, BTW. I never said that this is what is happening, just that it is a plausible explanation of the numbers.
On the post: Would King Lear Ever Have Been Written If Copyright Law Existed?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Shakespeare would have been fine
As for the RIAA, while there have been stories of unsupported claims, most of the file-sharing cases I've looked at are not only at least minimally supported, but are often quite well supported.
The Thomas-Rasset case is a telling one: the jury found, and after reading many of the documents in the case I would agree, that she engaged in illegal file sharing and when caught, not only denied it (repeatedly, with changing stories, through two trials) but most likely destroyed evidence to hide her activities.
On the post: Would King Lear Ever Have Been Written If Copyright Law Existed?
Re: But, But, its still copyrighted!!!
The actual text of the play is not copyrightable (and the copyright notice should have spelled this out), but the presentation may be.
On the post: Would King Lear Ever Have Been Written If Copyright Law Existed?
Re: Re: King Lear
Ideas are not copyrightable, only the specific expression of an idea is copyrightable. An idea might be patentable, though.
On the post: Would King Lear Ever Have Been Written If Copyright Law Existed?
Re: Re: Shakespeare would have been fine
On the post: Would King Lear Ever Have Been Written If Copyright Law Existed?
Re: Re: Shakespeare would have been fine
On the post: Would King Lear Ever Have Been Written If Copyright Law Existed?
Shakespeare would have been fine
It was also a popular story, as evidenced by the many writers at the time who published different versions of the tale. As long as Shakespeare's expression of the story was unique, there would likely have been little to sue over.
On the post: The Real Culprit For The Decline In Music Sales? Video Games
Re: Re: "Study measure expenditures, not consumption"
Then again, as Mike is fond of pointing out, perhaps the gaming industry has given gamers a "reason to buy".
The theory is fine, BTW. I never said that this is what is happening, just that it is a plausible explanation of the numbers.
Next >>