What was the last movie you've seen?

[Ack]

in this case, it seems to be...

As a general rule, you should never, ever believe the allegations in a lawsuit. The plaintiff can say whatever he or she wants inthe complaint, and the plaintiff has a very strong incentive to cast his or her case in the most favorable light.

The court's findings are something else entirely.

Exactly. Like I can sue Dave's university for hiring a homeless man who attends city council meetings to be a professor.

[Luke]

I once asked a friend, "Wouldn't it be cool if there was a video game where Spider-Man could fight Megaman?".

Something I should look into.


But perhaps Dish will have the last laugh with this one. But "similarities" and "straight up rip offs" are difficult to prove.

[Gamerforlife]

As I understand it, winning a case like this means:

1)Proving the defendant had access to the work
2)Proving that the two works are substantially similar

Substantially, there's the tricky part. The access part can be an issue as well if we're talking about some guy selling books on a street corner

EDIT: Also, general plot ideas are not protected by copyright law...but what do I know? I'm not a lawyer. Better call Saul

[Gamerforlife]

For anyone interested, this is much more detailed:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/ ... /Cabin.pdf

EDIT: There are a lot of similarities, but only to about one half of Cabin in the Woods...and that's mostly the half that is relying on horror movie tropes. The whole other second act of the movie after the big twist seems to not connect to the book at all

[dsheinem]

For anyone interested, this is much more detailed:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/ ... /Cabin.pdf

EDIT: There are a lot of similarities, but only to about one half of Cabin in the Woods...and that's mostly the half that is relying on horror movie tropes. The whole other second act of the movie after the big twist seems to not connect to the book at all

that's good to hear I guess...but mostly makes me wonder what obscure book he pulled those ideas from

The differences even in the first half are pretty striking, according to the suit:

The cabin’s previous inhabitants were murdered by the father of the family, who returns to terrorize the group of friends.. Throughout, the friends are being filmed and manipulated by persons behind the scenes, inadvertently playing characters in a real-life horror show...Even the names of the lead characters are similar. In the Book, the lead female blonde and brunette characters are named Julie and Dura respectively, whereas in the Film they are named Jules and Dana. Similarly, the cabin in the Book is called the “Brinkley Cabin,” whereas it is the “Buckner Cabin” in the Film

or

"Lead male (Matt) begins to suspect that the group is being manipulated by third party “puppeteers.”
vs.

Lead male (Marty) begins to suspect that the group is being manipulated by third party “puppeteers.”

and

Lead male knocks over a ceramic object (vase) and discovers a camera inside set up to observe the friends.

vs.

Lead male knocks over a ceramic object (lamp) and discovers a camera inside set up to observe the friends.

There are many similarities that are themselves horror tropes (e.g.a townie directing them to the cabin, no cell phone service, the ditzy or shy leads, etc.)...but there's just far too much coincidence here. I hope the author takes a good chunk of what he's asking for.

[Luke]

Dave did the devil face, so I know he's half kidding. I also know he loves to bait those who do like Whedon's stuff. And perhaps he is right. Probably not, but perhaps.


There is borrowing on intellectual material, and plain stealing it. There's also how using others material is approached.

It shouldn't have to be highlighted that a lot of famous comedians don't use their own material. It also shouldn't have to be noted that many of your favorite movies have uncredited writers*. This can make or break your career on both ends.

Not giving credit seems cheap, and stealing is stealing. Adapting a joke is different, but the dane cooks of the world have certainly been busted (even though that clown got to be on a CK show).

I'm far from a know it all of comedy. I don't even know a know it all of comedy, but from my limited experience as soon as someone asks "how long is your set?" you're friends. You exchange jokes, try to punch each others jokes up and then plan on what's up after the show. And way more than not someone says "I gotta joke that will work with your set, use it". It's like a fraternity that allows women and isn't down for gang rapes.

But you steal a joke, your ass is toast.

There is turning Flash Gordon into Star Wars, and then you have dane cook.





*But they do get a paycheck and get to tell their friends in the theater "Dude! I wrote that!"

[Ack]

It's like a fraternity that allows women and isn't down for gang rapes.

Unless you're Daniel Tosh.

[Luke]

It's like a fraternity that allows women and isn't down for gang rapes.

Unless you're Daniel Tosh.

Well, okay. There is one comedian who likes all male gang rapes.

[Gamerforlife]

This was fun. I don't know if it's quite as good as Hott Fuzz or Shaun of the Dead, but it's not too far off. So if you liked those two movies...well you know the rest. It kind of follows Hott Fuzz's formula of the slow build, then everything moving at a break neck pace and being over the top in the movie's second half. This one's probably worth a rewatch at some point for me, just like the other two.

Overall, I've enjoyed the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy.

[noiseredux]

What is the Dane Cook busted thing you reference Luke?