International Media Films recently sued Michael Lucas for copyright infringement in producing one of the most expensive porn films ever made, La Dolce Vita, a clear homage (homo-mage?) to the Fellini classic. IMF, however, could not prove ownership of the Fellini film which Judge Koeltl ruled is “possibly[sic]… in the public domain.”
Michael Lucas triumphantly booms:
I’m proud that my company won a case of such magnitude. We believed strongly that we hadn’t done anything wrong even before we learned, through the meticulous, extensive and expensive fieldwork of our lawyers, that IMF doesn’t even own the movie it went to court over. Of course I can only guess at my opponents’ motivations, but if they thought that they could get a quick payday by walking all over a porn company, they were sorely mistaken. I am very proud that my company had the professionalism, the quality legal advice and the financial resources to stand up to this bullying.
It may be a cinematic achievement in its own right (Haven’t seen it. Anyone?), but it’s strange that the issue of copyright even comes up. Wouldn’t this be satire? |Advocate|
I haven't seen these films but can I guess one has gay sex and one doesn't? Right?
no, it wouldn't necessarily be "satire," and even if it was "satire," it wouldn't necessarily be protected. if lucas wanted to make a satire of "rio lobo," he'd have to call it "rio homo," or something else. you couldn't call it "rio lobo" since the name "rio lobo" is owned by the successor company to national general pictures. (mad magazine never used the actual name of a film in any of its "satires.") it seems that copyright law is more protective of NAMES than it is of the actual CONTENT of artistic presentations. the trouble with international media films is that it may not be the legitimate successor company to the studio that first made "la dolce vita." (my advice to michael lucas: save on the legal costs next time. don't expropriate property that may belong to someone else.) it's a good thing fellini is no longer alive. not that he'd be "anti-gay" in the least, but just imagine the stink he'd make over someone else using the name of one of his projects.
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