Gas Giant critters

[Blue Ghost]

So, I had a draft for an adventure involving life forms the type of which Carl Sagan mentioned in COSMOS way back when (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uakLB7Eni2E) but his speculation, from what I understand, is based off of not just his own theory, but also in cooperation with E.E. Saul Peter, a CIT astrophysicist.

I was wondering if it's possible to write up an adventure using some of their basic concepts without breaching copyright and being accused of plagiarism.

Any response is welcome.

 

[Midgardsormr]

Under U.S. law, copyright applies only to expression. It does not cover ideas.
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#protect

Plagiarism is averted by a simple blurb, "Inspired by and based on [source]," preferably with a citation that can be used to find the original material. Direct quotes should be indicated as such.

IANAL.

 

[Blue Ghost]

That's right. Many thanks, Midgardsomr. Back to wrtiting

 

[Vargas]

I have a feeling you could find enough source material on the web to not have to worry about being accused of nicking Sagan's work.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Well, I think I can conjure something creative. The thing that worries me is that I wasn't sure how prevalent the speculation was; i.e. was it something that Sagan and Peter came up with, or was it something that a lot of scientists contemplated and put out there? I want to follow up on the idea, and put my own creative flares on the creatures in question.

 

[sabredog]

The idea of Jovian floaters and hunters is only one example of a type of animal that is pretty widespread in the genre. There are even has examples in non-jovian environments: Phol's novel, JEM has similar creatures. Brin used it in the Uplift series, etc, etc..

Gasbag animals are not a unique idea by any means, and well inside the realm of "common knowledge". As such there is no applicable copyright or risk of plagiarizing the concept.

So long as you don't make some video of them, and make it (along with the narration) the same as the one from Cosmos you'll be fine. That would be the only risk involved.

 

[tjoneslo]

You wouldn't even be the first person to write a Gas Giant dweller for Traveller: the Jgd-Il-Jagd are written from a late JTAS issue and expanded upon in GT:Alien Races 4.

 

[Blue Ghost]

That I did not know. Although the GT alien 4 book rings some bells.