Home / Arts and Entertainment / Paramount Avoids 'Maverick' Copyright Infringement Claim
Paramount Avoids 'Maverick' Copyright Infringement Claim
9 Jan
Summary
- Writer's 'Maverick' scenes deemed uncopyrightable by judge.
- Paramount wins dismissal of copyright infringement lawsuit.
- Writer's claims of defrauding Paramount will proceed to trial.
Paramount will not face a lawsuit from a writer alleging he co-wrote the Top Gun: Maverick screenplay. U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff ruled Friday that the writer's submitted scenes were uncopyrightable derivative works. The court emphasized Paramount's ownership of the original film, invalidating the writer's claim.
However, the legal battle is not entirely over for Paramount. Claims that the writer, Shaun Gray, defrauded the studio by concealing his involvement in the film's creation will advance to a trial. The judge noted there is sufficient evidence for a jury to find that Paramount reasonably relied on Gray's alleged fraud, preventing them from establishing employment agreements.
This decision marks another win for Paramount in copyright disputes surrounding Top Gun: Maverick. Previously, a federal appeals court affirmed a ruling that the sequel did not infringe on a magazine article that inspired the original 1986 film. The studio has now successfully defended against two separate copyright challenges.
