1. Block_Capitals

    Block_Capitals New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0

    Debunking something copyright

    Discussion in 'Traditional Publishing' started by Block_Capitals, Jul 27, 2009.

    OK, bit of a strange question here, however...

    If there is a book/documentary out and all of its claims can be proven false/lies/distorted truth....

    Would I be able to write a book debunking it without being sued for copyright by its creator?


    For example...(entirely hypothetical)

    Let's say Michael Palin made a documentary about wild hogs and stated 100 facts which were all wrong and the documentary was called "the collapse of pigs"
    would I then be able to write a book called 'the collapse of pigs-refuted' and go through the documentary step by step without getting financially shafted by a cactus?

    If I would be sued, how could I get around this little problem?

    please answer...the pigs need your help:D;)
     
  2. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Ideas cannot be copyrighted.

    But if you follow the structure of someoine else's book, section by section, it can certainly be argued that your work is directly derived from the writing of that other author, and that would be a copyright violation.

    You should really be asking a literary attorney, not a bunch of strangers on a newsgroup.
     
  3. Block_Capitals

    Block_Capitals New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    i was hoping someone may have experienced this before hand, rather than writing the entire thing then having to remove half of it after being evaluated by a lawyer...
     
  4. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    It's an unwise idea, and hacking it down after the fact would not fix it. You are still deriving your writing directly from someone else's.
     
  5. sprirj

    sprirj Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2009
    Messages:
    561
    Likes Received:
    193
    I don't understand why you have to abuse copyright for this....can't you call the book 'the truth about pigs' and give a factual account. Why do you need to tear another author apart? You maybe should look up referencing, and see what you can get away with? If it is say 100 faked fakes about pigs, would anyone care? Or sell your scoop to a paper?
     
  6. NigeTheHat

    NigeTheHat Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    1,594
    Likes Received:
    1,776
    Location:
    London
    As someone who works in publishing, I don't think the hypothetical Michael Palin would be able to get you for copyright. He would be able to get you for libel/slander if anything of what you said was wrong, and even if it wasn't he could still take the case to court and potentially leave you with a nasty legal bill.

    If you think there's a possibility that he would take offence then you would be advised to seek legal advice. The chance of publishing it is also pretty slim (even compared to the normal odds) if the publishers think it's going to come with a load of legal baggage trailing behind.

    Disclaimer: I've never dealt with a case like this, but I do deal with copyright-related matters fairly frequently.
     
  7. Gallowglass

    Gallowglass Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    May 2, 2009
    Messages:
    1,615
    Likes Received:
    92
    Location:
    Loch na Seilg, Alba
    People here come from different countries with different legal systems. Any answer you get here isn't worth anything. Both the UK and the US, where most of our posters come from, have many different legal systems that need to be taken into account.
     
  8. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    Copyright law, however is pretty uniform, by international agreement.
     
  9. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
    Messages:
    19,150
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Location:
    Coquille, Oregon
    all of which equals the fact that you really should consult an actual literary attorney on this issue and not people on a writing site... to not do so, before spending time and energy on such a project would be foolish in the extreme!
     
  10. Marcelo

    Marcelo Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2008
    Messages:
    841
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Sonora, Mexico
    Cool, I'm a stranger on a newsgroup. :D
    Uum, why would you break someone's work into sections so you can literally destroy it? If I was that author, I'll be angry 'bout that.
    Why don't you call the (hypothetical, of course) book "the ascension of pigs", and here you put 100 facts that the other author said that were wrong. You just put them as correct.

    Hope that it made any sense. Good luck with whatever you're actually doing, and I hope you don't get... financially shafted by a cactus. :p
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice