copyright derivative-work
Right to author book sequel of movie
<p>I would like to write a book that is a sequel to a 2009 movie. I worked out a screenplay but it seems clear that the movie industry will not work on a sequel without permission of the rights owners of the original even if it passes the derivative work test.</p>

<p>I have tried to contact the originators of the movie but their web site says “Please be aware that any pitches or screenplays will be deleted. We are not looking for other people’s ideas.” So it seems that selling the screenplay will go nowhere.</p>

<p>If however I write a novel that takes over where the movie left off that alludes to the plot of the movie as historical events and recycles a few of the characters, would that pass a reasonable derivative work test?</p>

<h2>That is definitely a derivative work</h2>
<p><strong>You can’t do that without permission</strong></p>
<p>One of the rights that copyright gives is the <strong>exclusive</strong> right to decide who can make derivative works.</p>

<p>If you “recycle a few characters” you are most certainly creating a derivative work. </p>

<p>There are borderline cases like “The Other Log if Phileas Fogg” by Philipp Jose Farmer. Which is <em>probably</em> not derived from Jules Verne even though it’s the same names and the same journey as “Around the World In 80 Days”. </p>

<p>What companies put in their website is to protect them from being sued - if they make a sequel themselves and you recognise similarities with your “sequel” you have not a leg to stand on. You’d have to contact the right people and convince them to read your script to have any chance. Having a name in the industry, or anywhere in writing, would be essential. </p>
