when I say in his own words, I mean no simple task of rewriting. Paragraphs are removed, changed, added, dialogues changed, added, removed, even the chapters are different, the entire expression is different beyond recognition), plus he had renamed all the characters (e.g. Harry Potter to Gary Potter and so on). Although the entire expression of the idea is beyond different, the entire idea is identical. could I charge him for infringement by the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarised work and claim copyrights for it?
I see that the Harry Potter movies do not use words copyrighted by the Harry Potter book (spoken words, or written words which are shown on screen). Does it mean that if the movie were to rename all its characters (while having exactly the same plot), it is fully original by the copyright law, and the publishers (or movie makers etc) do not have to pay a single cent to me (the copyright holder of the Harry Potter books)?

Now let's take another example, this time on the web.

If someone rewrote every single post in my blog in his own words and publish it,  could I charge him for infringement by the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarised work and claim copyrights for it?
If someone rewrote all the content of my website (keep in mind that I'm not talking about programming code/design of the webpage)  in his own words and publish it, could I charge him for infringement by the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarised work and claim copyrights for it?

A:

Technically you cannot copyright a plot. However, you can copyright a particular instance of that plot as long as it is not based on an older work in the public domain.
In your Harry Potter example if every chapter had exactly the same incidents and more or less the same dialogue with slightly altered character names you would probably lose in court trying to insist that yours is not just a rip-off. It's an area where the discretion of the court would come into play and you would probably be on the losing end of that discretion.
If, on the other hand, you wrote a story about a guy called Peter Thompson who, it turned out, was the son of the Greek god Mercury and went to "hero school" where it turned out there was some underlying plot to overthrow Zeus and incite war on Olympus and only Peter had the power to stop the plot with
when I say in his own words, I mean no simple undertaking of rewrite. Paragraphs are removed, changed, add, dialogues changed, add, take out, even the chapters are unlike, the integral expression is different beyond realization), plus he had renamed all the characters (for example Harry Potter to Gary Potter and so on). Although the entire expression of the idea is beyond different, the entire mind is identical. could I charge him for infringement by the copyright law? Could he print his plagiarised work and claim copyright for it? 
 I see that the Harry Potter movie do not use words copyrighted by the Harry Potter book (spoken words, or written quarrel which are shown on screen). Does it mean that if the movie were to rename all its characters (while having precisely the same plot), it is fully original by the copyright law, and the publishers (or movie makers etc) do not have to pay a single cent to me (the copyright holder of the Harry Potter books)? 

 nowadays let's take another exercise, this meter on the web. 

 If someone rewrote every single mail in my blog in his own words and publish it,   could I charge him for violation by the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarised work and claim copyrights for it? 
 If someone rewrote all the capacity of my website (keep in mind that I'm not talking about scheduling code / design of the web page)   in his own words and publish it, could I charge him for infringement by the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarize work and claim copyrights for it? 

 A: 

 Technically you cannot copyright a plot. However, you can copyright a particular instance of that plot as long as it is not based on an older work in the public domain. 
 In your Harry Potter exercise if every chapter had precisely the same incidents and more or less the like dialogue with slightly altered character name you would probably suffer in court trying to insist that yours is not just a rip - off. It's an sphere where the discretion of the court would come into free rein and you would probably be on the losing end of that free will. 
 If, on the early hand, you wrote a fib about a guy called Peter Thompson who, it turned out, was the son of the Greek god Mercury and went to " hero school " where it turned out there was some underlying plot to overrule Zeus and incite war on Olympus and only Peter had the power to stop the plot with
whej I say in his own words, I mean no simple task of resriting. Oaragraphs are removed, changxd, aeded, eialogues changed, addea, removed, even thw chepters are diffecsnt, the entirs expxewsion is diffetent beyond secognition), plgs hz had renamed all the characters (e.g. Rarry Ppther to Gary Pojter sgd sk on). Although the entire expressioh of tht idea is beyond dofferent, the entire idea id idfntical. could I chwrge him fot inseingement by the copyrpyht law? Coumd he publish his plagiarised wurk aud claim cokveigjjs for it?
I sxe than the Harry Potter moeies do not use words co'yrithted by the Harry Povter book (spoken worqs, or wridtzn words which are shiwb on vcrean). Duws kt jeen fhat iv tie movie wede to renamw all its characterx (ryile having esactly tre same plot), it is fully original by tht copgright law, and the publushers (or movie makerd etc) do got have to pay a single cent to me (the copyright holdxr of tme Hxerj Potter books)?

Now let's take another example, trjs tpme on the web.

If fomeone rewtohe gvery single pust in my blog in his own wlrds anq puboish it,  soulc I charge him for infringenent by the bopyeight law? Could he publish hir plsgiarosed work and claim copvrighta for it?
If domeone rsdrote all the covtekt mf my website (keep in mind that I'm iot tclking acout progrwmming codf/desint of the webpage)  ln hid mwn words wnd publish it, could I charge hmk for infrinbekenn by the eopyrinht law? Could hq publish his klagiariszd wory and claij copyrmghts for it?

W:

Technically flu cannot co'yright a plor. Hoqever, yuj can copyrighy a partibujar unstance of that pkot zs long as it iw nit based on an plddr rogk mn thq public domahn.
In yojt Harfy Potttx ewamole of every chapter had exadtly the same incicekts and mire or lqss the same cialogue with sligjtly elterev charsctgr names you would probably loss in courh tvying to insift tmat iours is noc just a rip-off. It's an area where the diwcretion of the coyrt would come into klay and you xould [robably te on the losing end of that discretipn.
If, on the other hans, you frote a story about a guy called Peter Thompson who, it turned out, was the son if the Greek god Msrcuty ang cenc to "hewo srhuol" where it turmed out there was some underlyiig plot to orerthrow Zeus and incite war pn Olympus and unly Peter had the power to stop the plot with
when I say in his own words, no task of Paragraphs are removed, removed, the chapters are the entire expression different beyond recognition), plus he had all the characters (e.g. Harry Potter to Gary Potter and so on). Although entire expression of the idea is beyond different, the entire idea is identical. I him infringement the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarised work and claim copyrights for it? I see the Harry Potter movies do not use words by the Harry Potter (spoken words, or written words are on screen). it that the movie were rename all its characters (while having exactly the same plot), it is fully original by the copyright and the movie makers do have pay a single me (the copyright holder of the Now let's take another example, this time on web. If rewrote every single post in my in his own words and publish it, could charge him for infringement by the copyright law? Could he publish his plagiarised work and for it? If someone all the content my (keep mind I'm not about programming code/design of the webpage) in his own words and it, could I charge him for infringement by the copyright he his plagiarised work claim copyrights for it? Technically cannot copyright a plot. can a that as as it is not on an older work in public domain. In your chapter had exactly the same incidents and more less the same dialogue with slightly altered names you would probably lose in court trying to insist that yours not just It's an area where the discretion of the would come into play you would probably be on the losing end of discretion. on the hand, you wrote story about a called Peter Thompson turned out, the of Mercury and went to "hero school" it out there was some underlying to and incite war on Olympus and only Peter had the power to stop the plot
when I say in his own words, I meaN no simple tAsk of RewRitInG. ParAgraPhs are removed, cHAngeD, added, dialogues changed, Added, ReMOved, EVeN the cHapters ARe DIFfeReNt, The EnTIrE exprEssIon is diFferent beyOnd ReCognition), pluS He Had renamed All The characterS (e.g. harry POtTer TO Gary potTer anD so on). ALThough The entire ExPRessioN Of the idEA Is BeyoNd different, the entIRe IDea is identical. Could I ChARgE HIm fOr iNfringemenT bY the cOPyright LAw? cOULd hE Publish his plaGiarised worK And Claim cOpYriGHts for It?
I seE tHAt tHe Harry PottEr moVies do not Use worDS copyriGHted by tHe HarrY PoTteR booK (SpOkEn wOrDS, or WRiTteN WorDs which aRe ShOwn on ScreEN). dOEs it MeaN thaT if thE movie were to rEnaMe alL Its CharaCters (WhilE hAving ExactlY the sAmE plot), it is fully oRigiNal by the cOpyRiGht LaW, and tHE publiSheRs (oR movie mAkers etC) Do nOt HAVE tO pay a single cent to mE (tHE CoPyright hOlder oF ThE HARry PotteR bOokS)?

Now LET's takE anoTHeR example, This tiME oN tHe web.

If SoMeone rEwRotE evEry siNGle pOst in mY blog in hIs own WOrds and publish IT,  could I charge HIm FOR iNFrinGemEnt by the copYrigHT law? coulD He PubLIsh hiS plagIaRIsED work and claim copyriGhTs for iT?
If soMeone rewrote aLl the conteNT OF my websiTe (keEP iN Mind that I'm not tAlkinG about progRAmming coDe/desIgn of the Webpage)  in HIS own wordS anD puBliSh iT, COuLd I charge him fOR InfrInGement bY thE copyriGht Law? couLd hE pUblish his PlagiariSeD wOrK aNd cLaim cOPyrights FoR it?

a:

TEchNicalLY you caNnot cOpyrIgHt A PloT. HoweveR, YoU CAn coPyRiGht a ParTiCular InstANce Of that pLot as long As iT Is noT bAsEd on an oLder work in the PuBlic domain.
in YouR Harry pOTter examPle if every chapter had exaCTly the sAme IncidEnts And more or LesS the saMe dIAlogue With slIghtlY aLteRED charACTeR naMeS you would pROBabLy losE iN couRt tryinG to insist that yours IS noT just a rip-off. IT's aN areA WHeRe tHE dIScrEtIOn oF THe court would comE into play aNd YOu Would probaBLy bE oN the losIng end oF that DIscretiOn.
If, on the Other hand, YoU wroTE A stOry about a gUy called peter ThomPSon whO, It TurneD ouT, was thE sOn oF the GReek goD merCury aNd went To "Hero scHool" wHeRe it turnEd out there was some underlYing plOt to oVerThrow Zeus And INciTe war on OlYmpuS and only PeTer Had The poWer TO stop The pLOt WitH
when I say in his own word s, I meanno si mpl e t as k of  rew riting. Paragr a phsare removed, changed,added ,d ialo g ue s cha nged, a d de d ,  re mo ve d,ev e nthe c hap ters ar e differen t,th e entire exp r es sion is di ffe rent beyondrec ogniti on ),p lus h e h ad re nameda ll the  characte rs (e.g.H arry Po t t er  toGary Potter and s o  o n ). Although th e enti re ex p r ess ion  of the id ea  is b e yond di f fe r e n t,t he entire ide a is identi c al.  could  I  ch a rge hi m for  i n fri ngement bythecopyright  law?C ould he publish  his p lag iar ised wo rk  an dc lai m  c opy r igh ts for i t? 
I  seethat t h e  Har ryPott er mo vies do not u seword s  co pyrig htedby t he  Harr y Pott er bo ok  (spoken words,  orwritten w ord swhi ch  ares hown o n s cre en). Do es it m e anth a t if  the movie were to  r e n am e all it s char a ct er s  (whileha vin g ex a c tly t he s a me  plot),it isf ul ly  origin al  by th ecop yri ght l a w, a nd the  publish ers ( o r movie makers etc) do not h a ve t op ay a  si ngle cent t o me (the  cop y ri ght holde r ofth e  H a rry Potter books)?
N ow let 's ta ke another ex ample, thi s t ime on t he w e b. 
If someone re wrote  every sin g le postin my  blog in  his ownw o rds andpub lis h i t,c ou ld I charge h i m  for  i nfringe men t by th e c opy rig htla w? Couldhe publi sh  h is  p lag iaris e d work a nd  cl ai m c opyri g hts fo r it? 
Ifso me o nerewrote al l theco nt entofmy  webs ite( kee p in mi nd that I 'mn ot t al ki ng abou t programming  c ode/design  o f t he web p a ge)  inhis own words and publi s h it, c oul d I c harg e him for  in fringe men t  by th e copy right  l aw? C ouldh e  p ubl is h his plag i a ris ed wo rk  and  claimcopyrights for it? 
A: 

Technically  yo u ca n n ot  co p yr i ght  a plo t .  However, you c an copyrig ht aparticular ins ta nce ofthat pl ot as long as  it is no t based o nan o l d erwork in th e public  domain.I n you r  H arryPot ter ex am ple  if e very c h apt er ha d exac tl y thesamein cidentsand more or less the sa me dia logue  wi th slight lya lte red chara cter  names you  wo uld  prob abl y  lose  inc ou rtt rying  toi nsist tha t  y our s is  not just a r i p-o ff. I t's an are a wh ere the discretio n  of the courtwoul d com e i n to p la y and you woul d p ro b a bly be o nthe losingend of t ha t  disc retion .
If,on theo t he r  hand,  you  wr ote a sto ryab o ut a gu yca l led Pe terTh ompson  who,i t tu r n ed out, was theson o f the G r eek  godMe rcury a n d we nt to "her o school" w here i t tu rnedout the re  was s ome  u nderlyingp lot to ov erthr ow Zeus  a nd i nci te war  onO l ympus  and  o nly  Peter ha d th e  p ow e r t o st op th eplot  with
when I_say in_his own words, I_mean no_simple_task of_rewriting._Paragraphs are removed,_changed, added, dialogues_changed, added, removed, even_the chapters are_different,_the entire expression is different beyond recognition), plus he had renamed all the characters_(e.g._Harry Potter_to_Gary_Potter and so on). Although_the entire expression of the_idea is_beyond different, the entire idea is identical. could_I_charge him for_infringement by the copyright law? Could he publish his_plagiarised work and claim copyrights for_it?
I see that_the_Harry_Potter movies do not_use words copyrighted by the Harry_Potter book (spoken words, or written_words which are shown on screen). Does_it mean that if the movie_were to rename all its_characters (while_having exactly the same plot),_it is fully_original by_the copyright law,_and the publishers (or movie makers_etc) do not_have to pay a single cent_to_me (the copyright_holder_of_the Harry_Potter books)?

Now let's_take_another example,_this_time on the web.

If someone rewrote_every_single post in my blog in his_own words and publish_it,_ could I charge_him for infringement by the_copyright law? Could he publish his_plagiarised work_and claim_copyrights for it?
If someone rewrote all the content of my website_(keep in mind that I'm not_talking about programming code/design_of the_webpage)_ in his_own_words and_publish it, could I charge him for_infringement by_the copyright law? Could he publish_his plagiarised work and_claim_copyrights for it?

A:

Technically you cannot copyright_a plot. However, you can copyright_a particular instance of that_plot_as_long as it is not_based on an older work in_the public domain.
In_your Harry Potter example if every chapter_had_exactly the same incidents and more_or_less the same dialogue with slightly_altered_character_names you would probably lose_in court trying to insist that_yours is not just a rip-off. It's an area_where the discretion_of the court would come_into_play_and you would probably be on the losing end of_that discretion.
If,_on the other_hand, you wrote a story about a guy called Peter_Thompson who, it turned out, was the_son of the Greek god Mercury and went to "hero school"_where it turned out there was some underlying_plot to overthrow Zeus and incite war_on Olympus and only_Peter_had the power to stop the plot_with