is it against the kaw to use someone elses idea from a book, but only use the main part and change the rest.?

Question

I read this book, (Can't remember the name of it) and in it there was this part that a girl was captured and totured. Her brother had to come and save her, but had to do all these challanges before he could get to his sister and bring he home safe. I really liked the idea, but is it against the law to use this idea but change it around, like instead of a girl being captured it could be a boy or her best friend or something like that, and instead of her brother coming to save her it could be her boyfriend or something like that, and have diffrient challanges. I really liked the idea, and I want to form it into a story I'm writing, It's not going to be all the same, just a diffrient version of this scene. Does anyone know if this is against the law, I want to use this idea, but I don't want to get into trouble.

Answer 1

Unless you use it word for word it is not illegal. If you do use it you have to get permission from the author. With all the books in the world there has to be just so many ideas. I am sure if you put it in your own words and not so close that people will say, hay, I just read that in a book it will be OK

Answer 2

It is not necessarily illegal, but you can ask Dan Brown what can happen when someone decides to push the issue. You can wind up in court anyway. Of course, it would have to be worth the effort in order to sue you. In the case of Holy Blood, Holy Grail, they went after Brown because he had made a lot of money from what they perceived as their idea. Incidentally, they lost, but it did cost Brown a hefty chunk of his royalties to defend himself.

We live in a world where people sue - and publishers surely do not want to spend money having their legal dept. defending them because they bought a book that someone feels is a rip off. That is why they will not buy anything posted on the internet. Too much risk that it is already plagiarized. Easier and cheaper for them to say NO.

But let's talk ethics here. It may not be illegal, but is it ethical? The answer is a resounding NO. A person's ideas are their intellectual property. If this book is close enough that a publisher, editor or agent recognizes it as a knock off of someone else's work, it can earn you a place on the literary blacklist. A writer's reputation is very important. You are trying to sell yourself to readers. A reputation as a knock off artist won't result in you making the best seller list.

Of course there is nothing new under the sun, and many times authors inadvertently write something similar to something else. But here you are outwardly stating you intend to rip this story off and alter it. That is very amateur and unprofessional. It certainly doesn't win my vote of confidence with regard to your writing skills.

Of course you are free to do what you want, but the idea of being an author is to be original and different. I hope that gives you something to think about. Pax - C

Answer 3

"Shamela" by Henry Fielding is a parody of "Pamela" by Richardson. Because Fielding acknowledges the source of his inspiration, even while he is ridiculing it, he is neither a plagiarist (who steals other people's ideas) or a copyright violator (for stealing their exact words).

So, use another person's idea if you are willing to say you are doing so. This won't get you points for originality, but it will get you off the hook legally. Do not use the original character names, places, etc.

Consider starting from scratch. You'll write a better book. I have confidence in you.

Answer 4

How To (Legally and Ethically) Steal Ideas
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/wc3-3.html

That might help you.

Answer 5

no i dont thinkit is
your talking about one of the most basic main plots ever
its just damsel in ditress