Re: heir's rights to a story

Subject: Re: Re: heir's rights to a story

Comments:
: : I am working on an original screenplay. The main character and 75% of the supporting characters are original to me. The problem is, the story follows these characters through a series of events very similiar to events that actually happened in a similiar town. Example: A group of elederly widows begin researching the cases their dead husbands were unable to solve when they were police officers. The case in question is a child beauty queen is found murdered in her home. Would this situation require me to get the approval of the JonBenet Ramsey family? : : The moral of the story is, "how similiar is too similiar?" and when do survivors have posession of the rights to the life stories of relatives? : : : : thanks so much, : : Leigh : Its not hard and fast. What is new can be fictionalized even if it is recognized as stemming from a new item. One must be careful that the end product does not serve as a libel. It started on a basis of freedom to you but when it is written you and or a lawyer may have to go over it for safety. : M. Arthur Auslander : E arly L egal A dvice I s N ot E xpensive : ELAINE's Workshop (sm): : Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909 : 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018 : 212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com

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