Screenwriting : Author Peter Gallagher sues! Joss Whedon and Lionsgate stole his book for "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012) by LindaAnn Loschiavo

Uh-oh, doesn't sound good. I never understand why people would plagiarize, when it should be easy enough to collaborate with the original author.

I will be watching this closely. While LindaAnn immediately calls "shame" on Whedon and Goddard I'm not so quick to place blame before all the facts are in. Many writers sue. Very few of these have much merit. Kids being terrorized in a remote cabin isn't exactly unique to Gallagher. Events being filmed and manipulated by persons behind the scenes for the enjoyment of others isn't exactly unique to Gallagher. But if Whedon/Goddard did have access to the book and took characters, sequence of events and dialogue from it then they should be held accountable. I'm with you Harold. If Whedon/Goddard and Lionsgate had offered Gallagher $50,000 for the rights he would have taken it. Seems foolish to not just offer him the money and screen credit. I will wait to shame them until all the facts are in.

Great comment, Marcus. I feel the same way. The idea isn't that unique, at least not unique enough to claim only one person could have thought of it. I guess the only strange thing is the similarities between the lead character's names, but again, if they were going to steal an idea, why would the make it so obvious?

Zachary the chances of these people making the same story with extremely similar names and scenes are as far away as mars. If it resembles the book so much it is theft. Miserable theft.

Not read the book so it's hard to say, but friends visiting a cabin in the woods is a very common story, it's why Whedon used it and why it resonated with all horror fans. The other elements... well be interesting to see what the lawyers make of it... odd that it's taken this long to bring the suit though.

Well, it's not exactly the same story. The basic premise is similar, but there are a few major differences (especially later in the film.) From what I have seen, the book is simply about making a horror movie without the approval of the characters starring in it. There are other things going on in the film version that are not inside the novel. Like I said, the only thing I find strange is the names being similar. But we'll see how it all plays out.

Peter Gallagher reportedly printed 7,500 copies of his book and sold them on the street in Santa Monica, Venice Beach and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The key female characters in "The Little White Trip: A Night in the Pines" are named Julie and Dura, he says, while the Lionsgate film featured protagonists Jules and Dana. (cited in a news article) .....

It would not surprise me if they settle out of court. Gallagher might even get more from the suit than if they originally went to him for $50K (theory price).

Silver lining moment: increased publicity for his self-printed novel.

Perhaps more work too!

Well guess we canf ind out if we want - the book is available here - http://www.scribd.com/doc/158038655/The-Little-White-Trip-a-night-in-the... - I read a bit, don;t see it personally. Weirdly, whilst the film commenced filming in March 2009, I think they wrote it in early 2007, so there's only a small window of overlap... I think it's just odd name coincidences and both sharing familiar horror tropes.

I don't think this one holds up. I've read hundreds of scripts about 5 young friends terrorized in a cabin in the woods. and quite a few where it ended up to be filmed by someone for amusement (hello, Hostel!). the hook of the movie still seems different from the book...though I haven't read the book.

danny, even if certain character names and other items are on the nose comparable? It may not hold but enough to settle.

Danny wrote: "I've read hundreds of scripts about 5 young friends terrorized in a cabin in the woods" - - - and there are probably dozens more about young people doing gosh-knows-what in a cabin. #Over-used

Agreed LindAnn. I think we have to wait and see how this plays out. If it's plagiarism, then it's obviously wrong and needs to be addressed, but there are many of those suits where it's just a similar idea, and we know we cannot copyright an idea. Let's let the oh so perfect court system figure it out. lol

Which is why CABIN is a comedy that makes fun of all of the horror movie tropes.

William: did "Cabin" use the over-used trope of a sexy young female, clad in flimsy lingerie & heels, trying to (a) investigate with a flashlight or (b) escape?

The making a horror movie without the approval of the movie's characters - there's a strange irony to all this...

I honestly think Joss is the last person on earth that needs to steal ideas.

You'd think. Hopefully it isn't true.