In article <AdGdnf2LXab0cUfanZ2dnUVZ_hSdnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
"Chuck" <somewhere@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
edgeofthings.info> spake thusly:
> > Even if the creators didn't know about Highlander when they initially
> > developed the concept, wouldn't the network's legal department have
> > done due diligence/research before greenlighting the show?
> Why would there be a legal issue? Ideas and themes are not
copyrightable.
There is a concept of "derivative works." If you reuse very broad
concepts, you're probably OK, but if you get too similar, you can get
into trouble. A classic example in the film industry is the movie
"Nosferatu", which was successfully sued in the 1920s by Stoker's
widow. "Nosferatu" made a number of fairly major changes to the
story, but was still too similar to "Dracula." So Hollywood
productions are usually very careful to legally obtain rights, if
necessary.
> You've done a great job do***enting this. but what I am wondering is
> what the similarities / dissimilarities between Highlander and
> Robert Henlein's works Methuselah's Children (1958) and Time Enought
> For Love (1973)
Been a while since I read either, but IIRC, Lazarus Long was not
immortal in the supernatural, magically-recover-from-wounds sense. He
just had really good genetics, so tended to age slowly and recover
from sickness. Eventually he gets rejuvenated by future technology.
He is capable of having children, and does. At no point is there any
prospect of his immortality ending due to a "prize." There is no
quickening, gathering, "buzz," or "there can be only one."
Lazarus's family members are almost all long-lived, since his
immortality is genetic. He is part of a society that tries to pair
people up with other naturally long-lived people. Lazarus Long
eventually lives long enough to be in a time where medical immortality
is possible for everyone. So, the "watch loved ones grow old and die
while you stay young" is not as much of an issue.
So I don't think Highlander or NA are very similar to Heinlein.
> Highlander the TV series was a rethinking of Highlander The Movie/
Well, yes. I have no problem with that. Nor do I have a problem with
NA borrowing concepts from HL. I'm just surprised that the NA people
aren't admitting it. Maybe they're afraid of being sued? Maybe they
watched HL before but honestly don't remember it consciously?
Highlander certainly didn't invent immortality. Immortality is in
plenty of ancient legends, stories, and religions. Some of my
favorites are the Greek and Roman deities, the various Jewish immortal
legends (Elijah is the best known, although I always preferred the
Jewish legend of the Pharaoh who lived over 1000 years), and the
Christian legend of the Wandering Jew. However, AFAIK, none of the
immortality legends include a close friend who is an older-looking,
mortal, lame, bartender and musician. :)
> > Some of the other similarities, though, stretch coincidence a lot
> > more. Especially the kid asking about beheading. If that wasn't
> > a reference to HL, why would the kid have asked that?
> cuz it's funny?
I'm pretty sure that, had I not been an HL fan, that would not have
been funny. It would have been a "huh?" moment.
- Morty
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