Is it legal to do a retelling of a myth but strongly referenced from sources?

Question

Forgive me for the silly question but I'm rather unfamiliar with how copyright works in this case. I'm considering on doing a retelling of an old myth in comic form but it is rather strongly based off from a so called 'compiled official' source dated back to 1800. There's no publication intended for what I'm doing, but more for practice sake and possibly sharing over webcomic websites. However, I would like to do this right and understand how far I can go with this. I have no intention of stealing, I definitely intended to reference the original source. I'm just curious if what I'm doing is illegal, if this piece of work is based off a source dated that long ago?

Answer 1

If it's based on something from 1800, you're fine. If it's based on an ancient myth, you're fine.



What you can't do is, for instance, write a book about Thor based on the recent movie or the comic book, and then say "oh but he's a mythological character from thousands of years ago so it's OK."



Edit: Whether or not you "reference the original sources" is irrelevant. That's only true for schoolwork. If you're planning to publish (and, legally, sharing on a public website is publishing) then you can't use someone else's copyrighted material without their permission. Saying you know it doesn't belong to you don't make it OK.

Answer 2

You're totally fine. For several reasons.

1) Mythology is not copyrighted, because the original author is some unknown person from thousands of years ago.

2) A specific retelling of a myth can be copyrighted, as is the case here, but since it's from 1800, the copyright should be expired.

3) Even if the copyright is still viable, you are referencing the original source, so you're giving credit to the copyright owner.

4) You aren't publishing, or making money off of it, or anything, so even if it was copyrighted and referencing it wasn't enough, it still wouldn't matter. Write away!!

Answer 3

Yes, that *is* illegal! Copyright laws are very strict in this country, and so you cannot share the information copyrighted by someone else, even in the form of a story. If you do, you could end up being fined for $5000 and even spend a month in jail!

Answer 4

I don't think it should matter because:

- The copyright should be LONG expired by now

- You're willing to refer to sources



So I say to go ahead! :D