Although Houghton Mifflin and the estate of Margaret Mitchell announced a settlement in the infringement litigation over Alice Randall's Gone with the Wind "parody," The Wind Done Gone, earlier this month (News, May 13), the settlement's language suggests that more litigation is likely if Randall tries to sell movie rights or create new adaptations of the work.
The statement, jointly released by HM and the Mitchell estate, said that "rights of the parties are reserved with respect to" all manner of TV, movie, film, miniseries or stage production. The statement also notes that Randall's rights to "any such adaptations are not affected by the settlement." However, a lawyer knowledgeable about the case, who declined to be named, provided an English translation: "everyone reserves the right to sue each other." The lawyer added, "This case is settled only with respect to the book." Neither HM nor lawyers for the Mitchell estate would comment on the language of the settlement when contacted by PW.
Randall praised HM president Wendy Strothman and her editor, Anton Mueller, for their support during the litigation. She said she "had no comment on the language of the settlement. I'd rather talk about art than business." She did tell PW that she had received inquiries about movie rights to The Wind Done Gone, but declined to discuss the issue further. Randall also noted that she doesn't have an agent and is working on her next novel. "The Wind Done Gone has found an audience. I received amazing letters of support," said Randall, "and I will continue to speak in a variety of mediums."
