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Protecting intellectual property in California is just as important for artists and writers as it is for large businesses and companies, if not more so. In fact, for writers, their written work is their product and their livelihood, and without protection of their rights to the profits from their creations, they might never receive compensation. A recent example is that of a magazine writer who has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit regarding articles he wrote about the late musician Tupac Shakur.
The recently filed suit claims that portions of a newly released biopic “All Eyez On Me” were borrowed from articles the writer had published. The writer interviewed Tupac Shakur for Vibe magazine in the 1990s and wrote several magazine articles based on these interviews. According to the lawsuit, a number of the unique fictional characters and narratives the writer reworked allegedly appear without permission in the new film based on the life of the late rapper.
The lawsuit has named as defendants the producers and screenwriters of the film. Lionsgate, Morgan Creek Pictures and Program Pictures are being sued as well. The complaint states that, instead of contacting the plaintiff in regards to his material, the defendants knowingly used infringing work based on the writer’s original.
The protection of intellectual property is important, not just to ensure artists, writers and creators are rightly compensated, but also to foster innovation. If California individuals and businesses are unable to benefit from their inventions and creative works, innovation suffers. Protecting intellectual assets is essential to success, and when these assets are threatened by copyright infringement, it can be important to act quickly. The skilled legal counsel of an experienced business and commercial law attorney can prove invaluable in such instances.
Source: toledoblade.com, “Writer sues Tupac filmmakers, alleges copyright infringement“, June 24, 2017