‘Raging Bull’ copyright lawsuit reinstated

Copyright exists as a way to protect intellectual property from potential infringement. However, the length of time that a copyright lasts may vary depending on several factors. Sometimes these issues can cause disputes in court during a copyright infringement lawsuit. 

After a dispute over whether the case was filed too late, the Supreme Court has decided to move forward with a copyright lawsuit concerning the 1980 movie "Raging Bull," directed by Martin Scorsese.

As the New York Times reports, Paula Petrella, the daughter of Frank Petrella, brought a copyright lawsuit against the owners of "Raging Bull" in 2009. Petrella is suing MGM for over $1 million for copyright damages. Frank Petrella allegedly authored works that the film was based on. 

Petrella claims that she inherited her father's rights to the works following his death, as detailed by the Hollywood Reporter. However, because she filed the lawsuit in 2009, the case was rejected for not being filed soon enough by the United States Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. 

Although the "appeals court dismissed the case based on the doctrine of laches," according to the New York Times, it was recently ruled by the Supreme Court that this doctrine is not applicable to copyright damage claims, and the case has been reinstated. The purpose of the doctrine of laches is to prevent lawsuits from being brought forth when there have been long delays. In some cases, the cost of litigation may be too high to make a lawsuit worthwhile, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted. 

Although timing may play a role in some copyright lawsuits, it is important to take steps to protect intellectual property. A small business attorney can provide expert legal counsel about how copyright law affects your business.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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