Can I publish a book based on the Library of Babel?
So I want to write a fictional book based on Borges' Library of Babel idea. The only thing I would preserve is the setting.
However, I am unsure of the legality of it. Is the setting copyrightable? How does that work? I don't think you can copyright ideas, so if I called it something else would it be fine?
Note, I'm not trying to legally worm my way into stealing it, I plan to give full attribution as the inspiration; but I just want to know if it is legal or what the best course of action is.
This is in the United States.
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1 answer
The idea that inspired you has a Wikipedia page!
Let me narrow down your question from (basically):
Can I take another author's idea and base a book on it?
to
Can I use a well-known setting and place my novel inside it?
You aren't using Borges' characters or plots. It's not like writing a story inside, say, the Harry Potter universe. You're still doing all the hard work. Lots of stories use settings from other authors.
Normally I'd say, go ask the author. But obviously this is impossible in this case. So yeah, I think you're on solid ground here.
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