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Copyright Copyright Litigation Movies

A Copyright is an exclusive legal right granted to the creator of an original work to license, copy, sell, distribute, or otherwise exploit the work for his or her own benefit.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Up, Up, and Litigated: Superman’s 87-Year Copyright War

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Superman has soared back onto the big screen, and unless you’ve been locked in the Fortress of Solitude, you already know his origin story: Rocketed from the doomed planet Krypton. Raised in Kansas. Secretly, a mild-mannered...more

Weintraub Tobin

(Podcast) The Briefing: The Ninth Circuit Puts the Brakes on Eleanor’s Copyright Claim

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Can a car be a copyrightable character? In Carroll Shelby Licensing v. Halicki, the Ninth Circuit said no — ruling that “Eleanor,” the iconic Mustang from ‘Gone in 60 Seconds,’ lacks the distinctiveness and consistency...more

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Enos v. The Walt Disney Company

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District court grants Disney’s motion for summary judgment, holding it did not infringe plaintiffs’ copyright in blue-eyed ukulele-playing turtle character, but rather independently created its own musical turtle character,...more

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. v. Halicki

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Ninth Circuit holds that custom Ford Mustang called “Eleanor,” which appeared in four films from 1974 to 2000, is not entitled to character copyright protection under Towle test and that licensor of custom car design did not...more

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Gone from Copyright: Ninth Circuit Rejects Copyright Protection for Iconic “Eleanor” Shelby Mustang

Court Narrows Scope of Character Copyright, Drawing Sharp Line Between Props and Protectable Expression - Not every film icon gets legal protection. On May 27, 2025, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Eleanor—the legendary Mustang...more

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Eden Film Production LLC v. Lockjaw LLC

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District court dismisses claim for copyright infringement against writers, producers and distributors of television show Yellowjackets, holding no substantial similarity between protectable elements of Yellowjackets and...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - April 2025

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A New York federal judge has tossed several school district lawsuits seeking to void a state law banning the use of Native American team mascots and names, throwing out individual board members’ free speech claims but saying...more

Venable LLP

New York District Court Confirms Limits of Copyright Protection Regarding Historical Events

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On March 6, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed that historical events are not subject to copyright protection....more

Fox Rothschild LLP

New Year, New Public Domain Works: Copyright Public Domain Day 2025

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Every year, the world celebrates the first of January as Public Domain Day, marking the release of copyrighted works into the public domain. In 2024, we saw popular intellectual properties enter the public domain, including...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - October 2024 #5

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A federal judge late Wednesday ordered the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to lock down UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium on the VA’s West Los Angeles campus at noon Thursday until the university comes up with a proposal for...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - August 2024 #4

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Floyd Mayweather finds himself deep into a lawsuit, as fraud and theft claims have been put against his name. The American boxer and rapper Tyga are now part of a suit by Leonard Sulaymanov, who has alleged the non-payment of...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing: Paramount Splashes Top Gun Maverick Copyright Lawsuit

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Paramount triumphs in the Top Gun Maverick copyright case. Join Scott Hervey and Jamie Lincenberg of Weintraub Tobin on 'The Briefing' as they dissect the court's ruling....more

Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

The Pitch - May 2023

The Pitch newsletter is a monthly update of legal issues and news affecting or related to the music, film and television, fine arts, media, professional athletics, eSports, and gaming industries. The Pitch features a diverse...more

Weintraub Tobin

Podcast - The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: Top Gun Maverick – Right Into The Copyright Lawsuit Zone

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In this episode of The Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a copyright dispute, in which the heirs of the author who inspired the movie “Top Gun” claim that the film’s sequel infringes on their...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: Top Gun Maverick – Right Into The Copyright Lawsuit Zone

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In this episode of The Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a copyright dispute, in which the heirs of the author who inspired the movie “Top Gun” claim that the film’s sequel infringes on their...more

Foster Garvey PC

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Lingerie Brand is Reportedly on the Verge of a $3 Billion IPO, and...

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This past week, I have realized my place is still on the blogosphere and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my readers, and I love my supportive family. Without them, none of this is possible....more

Weintraub Tobin

Podcast - The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: A Spooky Copyright Decision for Producers of Friday the 13th Franchise

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This week on the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a claim for copyright reversion made by the screenwriter of Friday the 13th, seeking the reversion to the rights in the screenplay to the popular horror...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing by the IP Law Blog: A Spooky Copyright Decision for Producers of Friday the 13th Franchise

Weintraub Tobin on

This week on the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a claim for copyright reversion made by the screenwriter of Friday the 13th, seeking the reversion to the rights in the screenplay to the popular horror...more

Weintraub Tobin

Podcast: The Briefing by the IP Law Blog - Don’t Scream: Copyright Infringement Case Finds for “Scary Terry” Rozier

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In this episode of the Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a Copyright dispute between professional Basketball player, Terry Rozier III and the holiday product manufacturer, Fun World, over his...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing by the IP Law Blog - Don’t Scream: Copyright Infringement Case Finds for “Scary Terry” Rozier

Weintraub Tobin on

In this episode of the Briefing by the IP Law Blog, Scott Hervey and Josh Escovedo discuss a Copyright dispute between professional Basketball player, Terry Rozier III and the holiday product manufacturer, Fun World, over his...more

International Lawyers Network

The Paraskavedekatriaphobia Precedent: Why Friday The 13th Decision Raises Fear Of Slashing Long-Held Copyrights

Admittedly, the second word in that title is a mouthful—but Paraskavedekatriaphobia is a real word, with an etymology and definition. It even has a synonym, friggatriskaidekaphobia. Each means “fear of Friday the...more

Littler

Producers of Creative Work Beware

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently held that the creator of The Friday the 13th screenplay could terminate his copyright grant to Horror Inc. (the producer of the movie franchise) and reclaim it. ...more

Foster Garvey PC

Ongoing Strife Between Studios and Talent Continues as Christopher Nolan Ends Nearly Two-Decade-Long Relationship With Warner...

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- Esteemed filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s decision to leave his 19-year-long relationship with Warner Bros. for Universal to make his next film (about Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of an atomic bomb) continues to...more

Foster Garvey PC

As Streaming Continues to Surge, More Backend Compensation Disputes Between Talent and Studios Likely to Follow

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- Beyoncé’s announcement of building a hemp farm (together with a honey farm) brings the perceived health benefits of CBD even further into the mainstream. Could this momentum ultimately lead to positive conversations around...more

Foster Garvey PC

Sports & Entertainment Spotlight: The Steady Evolution of Athlete Endorsement and Sponsorship Markets and the Latest Household...

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Some of this week's highlights include: - Emerging trends are showing signs of change in the sponsorships and endorsement markets. A segment once largely overlooked, athletes in the LGBTQ+ community are finally ringing in...more

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