(en) « E.T. film makers stole my idea, writer claims », The Straits Times, 16 décembre 1983, page 6.« PARIS, Thurs. -- A French writer of children's stories has accused the producers of the box-office hit film E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial of plagiarism. Former teacher Yvette de Fonclare claims the film's plot-line was stolen from her book, Enfant des Etoiles (Child of the Stars), published in 1979. “My book tells the story of an extra-terrestrial child abandoned on earth by a flying saucer and found by two little French children”, she said. She claimed that in February, 1981, she sent a copy of the book to Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles, asking whether it would be suitable for a film. / She said she was told it was too juvenile. When director Steven Spielberg’s E.T. was released in 1982, Mrs de Fonclare noticed that a co-author of the script was Melisa Mathison, who worked for Walt Disney when she sent her letter. Her claim only came when her 15-year old son telephoned a French radio station and announced, “It was Mummy who wrote E.T. They stole her idea”. Mrs de Fonclare said she did not know what to do next. “I am only a little writer for children, she said, I know nothing of these things. I rely entirely on my publisher.” Hachette Publishers, which produced her book, said it was studying the matter, acknowledging that there were common points between E.T. and Child of the Stars. - AFP ».
