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LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Ray Bradbury is demanding an apology from filmmaker Michael Moore for lifting the title from his classic science-fiction novel "Fahrenheit 451" without permission and wants the new documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" to be renamed.
"He didn't ask my permission," Bradbury, 83, told The Associated Press on Friday. "That's not his novel, that's not his title, so he shouldn't have done it."
The 1953 novel, widely considered Bradbury's masterpiece, portrays an ugly futuristic society in which firemen burn homes and libraries in order to destroy the books inside and keep people from thinking independently.
"Fahrenheit 451" takes its title from the temperature at which books burn. Moore has called "Fahrenheit 9/11" the "temperature at which freedom burns."
His film, which won top honors in May at the Cannes Film Festival, charges that the Bush administration acted ineptly before the September 11 terrorist attacks, then played on the public's fear of future terrorism to gain support for the war against Iraq. It opens nationwide Friday.
Bradbury, who hadn't seen the movie, said he called Moore's company six months ago to protest and was promised Moore would call back.
He finally got that call last Saturday, Bradbury said, adding Moore told him he was "embarrassed."
"He suddenly realized he's let too much time go by," the author said by phone from his home in Los Angeles' Cheviot Hills section.
Joanne Doroshow, a spokeswoman for "Fahrenheit 9/11," said the film's makers have "the utmost respect for Ray Bradbury."
"Mr. Bradbury's work has been an inspiration to all of us involved in this film, but when you watch this film you will see the fact that the title reflects the facts that the movie explores, the very real life events before, around and after 9-11," she said.
Bradbury, who is a registered political independent, said he would rather avoid litigation and is "hoping to settle this as two gentlemen, if he'll shake hands with me and give me back my book and title."
Moore's film needed new distributors after Disney refused to let its Miramax subsidiary release it, claiming it was too politically charged. The documentary was later bought by Miramax bosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who lined up Lions Gate and IFC Films to help distribute it.
The movie's distributors are appealing to lower its R rating to PG-13 and a screening has been set for Tuesday by the Motion Picture Association of America's appeals board.
Bradbury's book was made into a 1966 movie directed by Francois Truffaut. A new edition of the book is scheduled for release in eight weeks, Bradbury said, and plans are in the works for a new film version, to be directed by Frank Darabont.
Just fyi for anyone who hasn't read the book: it's a really good read and a treatise on freedom and free thought/speech. The movie isn't bad but the book is a real classic and a must-read.
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So it's similar, whats the big deal? There are firemen in the book and there were firemen in 9/11. Who's gonna watch the film and go 'Hmmm, that was a total rip off of Bradbury's book". Even if someone did, the response would be, "Who the hell is Bradbury?"
This is just drumming more business for each party involved.
Bradbury is simply insulted that his title was ripped-off without so much as anyone asking him if it were ok. I'd be a little put-off, too, especially considering that I don't support Moore's political agenda. Bradbury doesn't like political agendas associated with his work and I don't blame him.
There's nothing wrong with his asking Moore to change the title and apologize. I don't expect Moore to do either, though.
__________________ You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
I think Moore should apologize and change the name. It would also be a little piece of free publicity (just like these articles) to say "Moore Changes Title to Respect Author's Wishes".
I am amazed to learn that Moore did not think to contact Bradbury prior to naming his film. It seems quite disrespectful, especially from one "artist" to another.
Skooly, I am fairly certain Bradbury could easily have the legal grounds that Ferenheit 451 is obviously the copyrighted material in question, and that the resemblance to the title was used without express permission. Not to mention Moore has even used the example of what the book's meaning "burn @ 451" vs. "temp that freedom burns".
Respect the author's wishes and change the name.
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>> Not to mention Moore has even used the example of what the book's meaning "burn @ 451" vs. "temp that freedom burns".
Doesn't that make it a parody? Whenever Moore is challenged on the facts he just says he's using comedic license.
__________________ You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
I don't think he would want to offend the author that gave us one of our two greatest science fiction political wake up calls in history (the biggest being Orwell's 1984)...
I just can't belive he could be so arrogant as to ignore the polite request of a highly revered author who's work he obviously considers has impact because thats why he used the title in the first place!
Moore, dammit, I know you're reading this. Change the title.
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There's a fine line between rubbing lotion on yourself and rubbing yourself with lotion.
Bradbury demand Christian Dior to change their name of their Cologne
dczoner, Bradbury has no legal grounds on the title. Temperature, Farenheit and all numbers CANNOT be copyright and/or trademark. They are common words and no one can own them. I think that's what skooly meant. Example is how Intel change their chip name to Pentium, cause their number method cannot be copyrighted/trademarked.
It's not just the word. Moore took the name from the book, the slogan, and the concept. This cologne did not.
__________________ You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
I don't think there's anything Bradbury can do legally either. But I'm glad to know that Bradbury doesn't agree with the way Moore used his title.
__________________ You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
Bradbury demand Christian Dior to change their name of their Cologne
dczoner, Bradbury has no legal grounds on the title. Temperature, Farenheit and all numbers CANNOT be copyright and/or trademark. They are common words and no one can own them. I think that's what skooly meant. Example is how Intel change their chip name to Pentium, cause their number method cannot be copyrighted/trademarked.
I had this cologne, but I stopped wearing it because chicks didnt really like it.
__________________ You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
Your right. I could not own the copyright to a word like that, but I can own a phrase. Namely implying that Ferenheit 9/11 is similar enough to Ferenheit 451. Thats all it takes for a judge to at least consider damages. Copyrights are put in to place not only to protect the EXACT item in question but also to protect the essence of the material.
All I'm saying is that Ray Bradbury is a distinguished author who's asked what seems to me a reasonable request that Moore categorically ignored. Additionally, we cannot know if Bradbury would lose or not, thats for a court to decide. But its pretty f^cked up that everyone here thinks litigation ought to be the step taken. NO! Why does it always have to come to that? We're so freakin lawsuit happy in this country that it doesn't even occur to us that maybe Moore would change something out of respect for another person's wishes.
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There's a fine line between rubbing lotion on yourself and rubbing yourself with lotion.
If some other company made a cologne and called it Fahrenheit they'd be sued!
__________________ You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
Originally posted by skooly Too bad Bradbury isn't on board, but any copyright lawsuit against Moore will fail under the Fair Use doctrine.
Agreed...clearly a parody. Guess that's why Mr. Bradbury isn't suing.
Pete (thinks Ray should be using this opportunity to sell extra books)
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Ray Bradbury going after Moore
