Hey, IndieWire: I’m a filmmaker working on my first feature and this article about the plagiarism allegations against “The Letter Room” read like my worst nightmare. I don’t want anyone to rip me off — and for that matter, I don’t want anyone accusing me, either. Is there any way I can protect myself and my collaborators from a situation like this?
Name withheld, Los Angeles
Georges Polti says there’s 36 dramatic situations. Christopher Booker offers “The Seven Basic Plots.” And Leo Tolstoy has often been quoted as saying all great literature fits into two stories: A man goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town. (The source actually appears to be John Gardner.) All of which points to a short answer for your question: Your original ideas might not be so original, and therefore are subject to much less legal protection than you might think.
Name withheld, Los Angeles
Georges Polti says there’s 36 dramatic situations. Christopher Booker offers “The Seven Basic Plots.” And Leo Tolstoy has often been quoted as saying all great literature fits into two stories: A man goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town. (The source actually appears to be John Gardner.) All of which points to a short answer for your question: Your original ideas might not be so original, and therefore are subject to much less legal protection than you might think.
- 5/17/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
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