Paramount Pictures has been embroiled in a potentially massive legal battle over the rights best weapon. According to a lawsuit filed Monday in California federal court, the studio knew it had no rights to the extension but still continued production and distribution.
The complaint was filed by Shosh and Yuval Yonai, heirs of the plaintiff in 1983. California The magazine’s story, Ehud Yonay, titled “Top Guns”, on which the original film is based. They benefit from the copyright law provision, which allows authors to regain the rights to their work after a waiting period, usually 35 years. That spot quickly became available to studios facing the prospect of losing the franchise rights to many of the cult works of the 1980s.
The Yonays claim the rights to the story were returned to them in January 2020 after Paramount sent a termination notice, but which the studio “deliberately ignored and blew its nose”. They seek an order to block further exploration of the studio. Top Gun: Maverick.
“This case arises from Paramount’s deliberate failure to recover the necessary film and rights to support the Yonays’ copyright history through the completion and release of its 2022 sequel,” wrote Mark Toberof and former federal judge Alap Saelio. Kozinski, who represents the Ionians.
Paramount acquired the copyright to Jonah’s story shortly after it was published in 1983. An article about a naval training base that focuses on pilots and their personal experiences highlights the pilot duo of “Yoga” and their law enforcement officer radio.” Possess”. The original film was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., who were involved in the sequel.
According to the lawsuit, Paramount “deliberately failed” to obtain a new license for the film after the Ionians restored its rights in 2020. They sent a letter to the studio regarding the termination and termination. Top Gun: Maverick May 11, 2022, two weeks before launch. Paramount allegedly denied that the film was a copyrighted story production.
The Yonays argue that the film wasn’t finished until May 8, 2021, more than a year after the story ended. However, Paramount argues that the extension was “sufficiently completed” before the completion date.
Top Gun: Maverick There were several delays on the way to release. It was repeatedly pushed back to 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic due to theaters closing before hitting theaters in May. He has $550 million globally, $90 million for the second weekend.
A statement from Paramount said: “These accusations are unfounded and we will vigorously defend ourselves. The protection you expect to benefit from is that the facts in a copyrighted story are not subject to copyright.
The question also arises as to whether the original film was a copyrighted production of the story. Paramount awarded him the title of “Proposed” in Ehud Jonah’s 1986 film. Although the studio acquired some rights to the magazine article, the purchase may not have been necessary to move forward. best weapon.
And even if the original was a production of Iona’s work, that doesn’t mean there will also be a sequel if the studio doesn’t rely on the story to create the original elements. Top Gun: Maverick.
Toberoff represented the writers behind the original. predator The film sued Disney 20th Century Studios to recover the script. The case was resolved in January. He also represents the heirs of the comics trying to kill Disney’s rights to various Marvel characters.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
