Many fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and the Twilight series may have noticed similarities in the two works, even though Fifty Shades can be said to be graphically erotic and Twilight can be said to be graphically chaste. However, fans may not realize that E.L. James’ Fifty Shades actually began as unauthorized, online fan fiction that was originally based on the vampire love story.

That is where the possible problems begin. Stephanie Meyer’s copyright on Twilight, in addition to obvious rights on her novels, also gives her the exclusive right to decide who can make “derivative works.” This is the reason Summit Entertainment could not make the Twilight series into films without Meyer’s permission. The copyright also includes new works, including alternative stories based on the original piece.

Fifty Shades of Gray was originally posted under the title Master of the Universe, and the characters in the story were named Edward and Bella, after Twilight’s primary characters. Master of the Universe was so popular that it led to a seven-figure book deal. James renamed the characters, but, when the text was compared to that in Twilight, the anti-plagiarism software concluded that 89 percent of the text of the two works was identical.

Vintage, James’ current publisher, says that Fifty Shades is no longer based on Twilight. However, the debate continues as to how far the derivative work rights reach. A number of past cases would indicate that an illegal infringement exists. A federal appellate court says that the issue is a close enough question that it really should be resolved by way of a trial.

A trial is not likely to happen soon. The legal issue has not mattered, because Meyer has no taken any action against James, although she did say that Fifty Shades is “too smutty” for her taste.

Both novels are hugely popular, runaway bestsellers. Similarities in the two works do exist. Both involve an insecure young woman who enjoys speaking as the narrator of her own story. In each work a gorgeous man refuses to answer personal questions. Neither man can leave their respective young woman alone. Both men reveal to the woman that they have secrets that she would likely not understand. Both are set in the gray climate of the Pacific Northwest. And both young women are willing to be “enlightened” as to the lifestyle of the man she falls in love with.

Although Twilight never really carries out the physical relationship between Bella and Edward, the sexual undercurrent is there, as it is in Fifty Shades, despite the much more graphic expression of the characters’ attraction.