Shakespeare vs. Disney: Copyright and Inspiration

The video explores whether The Lion King is based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, examining plot similarities and differences. It discusses legal precedents, focusing on the idea/expression dichotomy in copyright law. The video concludes that while there are shared elements, Disney's expression differs significantly, making a legal victory for Shakespeare unlikely.

What year did The Lion King premiere?

• 1994

• 1996

• 1998

• 1992

What is the main legal question posed in the video?

• Could Shakespeare sue Disney for plagiarism?

• Could Shakespeare sue Disney for copyright infringement?

• Could Disney sue Shakespeare for defamation?

• Could Disney sue Shakespeare for copyright infringement?

Which two major plot elements are common between The Lion King and Hamlet?

• A king's death and a prince's quest to reclaim the throne

• A prince's exile and a king's betrayal

• A prince's exile and a queen's betrayal

• A king's death and a queen's betrayal

How do the sequences of events differ between The Lion King and Hamlet?

• Both start after the king's death

• The Lion King starts before the king's death, Hamlet starts after

• Both start before the king's death

• The Lion King starts after the king's death, Hamlet starts before

What is the outcome of Hamlet's quest for vengeance?

• He saves the kingdom

• He finds peace

• It ends in high tragedy

• He becomes king

What does U.S. copyright law emphasize in cases of infringement?

• Differences between works

• Similarities between works

• The intent of the creator

• The popularity of the work

What was the outcome of the Steinberg v. Columbia Pictures case?

• Columbia won due to differences in the works

• Steinberg won due to substantial similarity

• The case was dismissed

• Both parties settled out of court

What is the idea/expression dichotomy in copyright law?

• It covers only the ideas within a work

• It covers neither ideas nor their expression

• It covers both ideas and their expression

• It covers only the expression of ideas

What must Shakespeare prove to win a copyright case against Disney?

• That Disney copied the specific expression of ideas from Hamlet

• That Disney copied the plot of Hamlet

• That Disney copied the setting of Hamlet

• That Disney copied the characters of Hamlet

What is the significance of the idea/expression dichotomy in the case of Shakespeare vs. Disney?

• It allows Shakespeare to claim ownership of the plot

• It allows Disney to claim ownership of the plot

• It prevents Disney from claiming ownership of the plot

• It prevents Shakespeare from claiming ownership of the plot