I'm currently working on adapting an arthurian legend for a screenplay I intend to make for an advanced film course at my school. I wanted to know what I should do with regards to the rights of the story. For example, should I get in contact with the publishing company and ask permission, or what?

If you're basing the screenplay on a contemporary novel, you should probably contact the publisher and tell them what you are doing, but if they just published the basic Arturian legend as the one in existence for hundreds of years with no creative decisions of their own, they don't own the rights themselves.

P.S. If you're doing the film just for a course without intent to sumbit it online or make money of it, they probably won't have any problems with it.

If the novel is like one hundred years old, you don`t need to ask or buy rights.

Not necessarily. The copyright may have been renewed or the estate may gold copyright.

quote:

Originally posted by titaniumdoughnut:
Not necessarily. The copyright may have been renewed or the estate may gold copyright.

I'm pretty sure once the author's been dead for 50 years the copyright is automatically removed and can't be bought/renewed. If a company owns the copyright, however, I think the same principal applies, so even if the author is dead, so long as the owning company is still alive, the rights are still closed.

I'm talking out of my ass on that last part, it just seems logical. Then again this might only apply to music so maybe you shouldn't listen to me... Just something I heard.

Personally, I can't see anyone sueing you anytime soon, do what you want, permission or not. I don't think it'll matter as I'm sure 50+ years after the death and all bets are off.