Road House Rumble: Remake Rights Ensnared in Copyright Dispute
The upcoming remake of the cult classic "Road House" has hit a snag, and it's a doozy. At the center of the brawl? A copyright throwdown between the original screenwriter, R. Lance Hill, and Amazon Studios (who own MGM, the film's original rights holder).
Hill's Claim to the Road:
Hill, who wrote the script under the pseudonym David Lee Henry, says he got the rights back in 2021 under a provision in copyright law. This provision allows authors to reclaim ownership of their work after a certain period, typically 35 years. Hill then filed a lawsuit against Amazon accusing them of copyright infringement for moving forward with the remake.
Amazon's Counterpunch:
Amazon isn't taking this lying down. They've filed a countersuit, alleging that Hill lied on his 1986 copyright application. According to Amazon, the original deal with Hill classified "Road House" as a "work made for hire," meaning the rights belonged to United Artists (now MGM) from the get-go. They're calling Hill's attempt to reclaim ownership a "fraudulent" one.
Who Will Prevail?
The outcome of this legal battle will hinge on whether the court finds merit in Hill's claim of reclaiming the rights or validates Amazon's argument of a "work made for hire" agreement.
Stay Tuned for Further Developments:
This is a developing story, and the stakes are high. The decision could not only impact the "Road House" remake but also set a precedent for future copyright disputes involving screenwriters and studios.
