Films named after songs

[Biohazard EHW]

Something just crossed my mind not too long ago. I noticed that there are quite a few songs named after movies, but is it legal to name your script after a song?

I highly doubt that Iced Earth frontman Jon Schaffer asked Ray Bradbury if he could name his 1998 album Something Wicked This Way Comes, and I know that Metallica did not get Hemmingway's permission for calling one of their songs For Whom The Bell Tolls...but my point is this: if a band can give one of their songs a title from an existing film, can a screenwriter name his script after a song?

[Keith Kocaine]

can a screenwriter name his script after a song?

Yes. You can't copyright a title.

[whistlelock]

unless you're Disney. then you can do whatever.

[Biohazard EHW]

Yes. You can't copyright a title.

I guess that's why I sometimes see two or three films with the same title. Thanks for the answer.

[cluckyburger]

I know that Metallica did not get Hemmingway's permission for calling one of their songs For Whom The Bell Tolls

Hemingway took that title from a poem by John Donne.

[Biohazard EHW]

Hemingway took that title from a poem by John Donne.

My mistake. Oh well...never read the poem or saw the movie but the song is pretty cool.

[captain bligh]

ray bradbury borrowed "something wicked this way comes" himself.

that said, i've used song titles as names of scripts.

and my most recent script has a title that i just found out is also the title of a cure song, which i didn't know.

[cluckyburger]

bligh --
I look forward to reading "It's Friday, I'm in Love". good choice

[Biohazard EHW]

and my most recent script has a title that i just found out is also the title of a cure song, which i didn't know

Yeah, I'm sure that it happens every day just on coincidence alone.