A legal question

CKM · Jan 28, 2010

Hey all. I checked the Novel FAQs and Helpful Links thread, and couldn't find an answer to this question, so I thought I'd see if you guys could help me out.

I'll try to keep this simple, as I have a feeling it may get confusing!

I have an idea for a story, it's based on actual events that took place in a town not far from where I grew up. The story I want to write would be fictional, but these "actual events" would be the backdrop for the story.

Basically, I would be taking the actual events, and writing a fictional story around them. Does that make sense?

My question is, because these events were in the news, and have been written about in other, non-fiction, books, would I need to get permission from anyone? Maybe the people who wrote those books?

I've always been of the impression that as long as something was in the news, it's fair game. Not necessarily the people, but the story itself. Is that true?

Does what I'm asking make any sense?

Forestqueen808 · Jan 28, 2010

You are making perfect sense! I am wondering that same thing! I really don't know, and if I would I would totally tell you. All I know is that the same thing is happening to me! Its like..."Do I have to ask someone? Who do I ask?" I guess we can share this boat together

CKM · Jan 28, 2010

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one going through this.

benbradley · Jan 28, 2010

IANAL but I don't see where you would need any permission. What would you do, ask the events for permission to use them?

job · Jan 28, 2010

IANAL either
but you can't copyright events.

You would not be allowed to use the actual words of a newspaper article or book written about the events.
Nor could you quote letters you do not have permission to quote.
You would not be able to quote extensively from interviews a reporter had conducted,

But you could talk about the facts.

If a newspaper reporter made a non-obvious finding, or reached an original insight, or came to a unique conclusion you would be able to talk about what he had concluded -- ideas cannot be copyright -- but you would not be able to use his words.
If his insight were particularly original, it would be intellectually dishonest to use it without acknowledging the source.

CKM · Jan 28, 2010

"IANAL but I don't see where you would need any permission. What would you do, ask the events for permission to use them?"

lol. Well I was thinking since people have written books about it already (although they're non-fiction), I thought maybe I might have to have their permission since my story will be similar to their books.

EclipsesMuse · Jan 28, 2010

Even if they wrote books about the event does not mean they own the event.

CKM · Jan 28, 2010

EclipsesMuse said:
Even if they wrote books about the event does not mean they own the event.

I was thinking the same thing, but, being new at this, I wanted to ask.

Thanks for your help everybody.

James D. Macdonald · Jan 29, 2010

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Silence of the Lambs, and Psycho were all based on true events.

And, they were based on the same true events.

PeterL · Jan 29, 2010

It is true that one cannot copyright events, so the events themselves are in the public domain. If oyu want to give credit to people who have written about those events, then you can mention them in the acknowledgments or in a bibliography.

A legal question

CKM

Forestqueen808

What can I say? I'm a writer

CKM

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

CKM

EclipsesMuse

Questing

CKM

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

PeterL