Copyright Law and Compensation at Center of Theater Production Lawsuit

Los Angeles, CA (Law Firm Newswire) July 27, 2011 – “Point Break” is a cult movie classic involving an undercover FBI agent who pretends to be a surfer in order to mix in with a group of surfers who have robbed more than 25 banks, all with ex-president masks on. The movie has been successfully parodied in a theater production, “Point Break LIVE!” that has been seen by many in the Los Angeles area since 2007. But now the writer behind the parody, Jaime Keeling, feels she’s being robbed and is suing New Rock Theater Productions for using her script without permission and compensation.

Anthony Spotora

Keeling and New Rock Theater Productions originally had a production agreement for two months in 2007, but ended their relationship after that. Keeling says that New Rock continued to run the play in Los Angeles and beyond. New Rock says that because her work is a derivative parody it enjoys no copyright protection, and thus she deserves no compensation. In the complaint, the playwright says her work is within the bounds of fair use and adds sufficient originality to give her copyright protection, and she should be paid for the play’s multi-year success.

“Copyright law does show that when a person takes an original work, they must make it different and new enough to obtain a new copyright,” said Los Angeles copyright attorney Anthony Spotora. “They will have no rights to the preexisting work.”

From playwrights to screenwriters, and musicians to artists, creators obtain copyrights to protect their work. Oftentimes, disputes occur due to the original creator finding a derivative that is not unique enough. The original creator wants control to create his or her own derivative works to build their body of work and brand. But in the example of “Point Break Live!” and a play that has made money for years for many actors, theater companies, and venues, the case will be interesting to watch as Keeling goes after royalties she claims she is rightfully due.

In California, Los Angeles copyright lawyer Anthony Spotora protects the rights of diverse types of creators, from writers and playwrights to musicians and more. For more than a decade, the Law Offices of Spotora & Associates has counseled clients on all of their intellectual property matters. They are known for avidly defending their clients’ rights throughout California, the United States, and abroad.

To learn more, talk to a Los Angeles Business Lawyer or Los Angeles business Attorney by visiting http://www.spotoralaw.com/.

Law Offices of Spotora & Associates, P.C.
1801 Century Park East, 24th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90067-2302
Call: (310) 556.9641

• Los Angeles Business Attorneys Offer a Brief Overview of Unfair Business Practices
  Nearly every business owner has heard of the term “unfair business practices,” but what exactly does it mean?  We know that for the most part, companies and corporations operate in a manner that is honest and open; however, there are many businesses (in fact, more than you might think) that do not adhere to such [...]
• Business Dispute Arises Out of Soap Drama
  Soap opera buffs have no doubt heard the recent news that two long-running soaps, All My Children and One Life to Live, are back.  However, recently there has been a bit of “drama” going on behind the scenes that has resulted in Prospect Park filing a lawsuit against ABC for breach of contract.  According to [...]
• Dispute Between AMC, Disney Over Movie Proceeds Resolved
  On Thursday April 25, a dispute between the second-largest cinema chain in the nation, AMC Theatres, and Walt Disney was resolved.  With the highly anticipated release of Iron Man 3 this summer, Disney put up a fight, saying they desired a 3 percentage-point increase in the share of ticket sales proceeds.  While the terms of [...]

See other news sources publishing this article. BETA | Tags: Los Angeles business attorney, Los Angeles business lawyer, Los Angeles entertainment attorney, Los Angeles entertainment lawyer