Nun sues Disney for 'stealing Sister Act'

[k5jm]

Oh my!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/nov/11/nun-sues-disney-sister-act

Nun sues Disney for 'stealing Sister Act'
Veteran campaigner Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely claims Whoopi Goldberg film is based on her 1987 autobiography The Harlem Street Nun

Almost 20 years after Sister Act was released in the US, a nun who claims her autobiography was the inspiration for the film has launched a lawsuit against Disney and Sony Pictures, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Queen Mother Dr Delois Blakely, a veteran campaigner who recently made headlines when she recruited activists from Occupy Wall Street to protest against the lack of maintenance in her Harlem apartment block in New York, will represent herself in the case. Her allegations include breach of contract, misappropriation of likeness, unjust enrichment and other claims.

According to the complaint, Blakely was a "young, black, singing nun serving the street people and youths of Harlem", who published the autobiography The Harlem Street Nun in 1987.

Later that year, she approached Tri-Star Pictures producer Cynthia Bowles, among other Hollywood figures, with a three-page synopsis. Bowles apparently sent her a letter in reply, expressing interest in the film rights.

Later, according to the claims, producer Scott Rudin took a Sister Act project from Tri-Star to Disney. This became the film starring Whoopi Goldberg as Delois van Cartier, a worldly singer who, after witnessing a mob crime, goes undercover in a convent presided over by Maggie Smith. It made more than $230m at the box office, and spawned a sequel and a stage musical. The studios have declined to comment.

Blakely's suit lays out the apparent similarities, and the plaintiff is now demanding an injunction against further violation of her publicity rights and equitable relief.

Her Facebook page profiles her as "a noble woman of compassion and caring [who] champions the aspirations of women, children and youth. She criticises mankind for the economic injustice that has degraded billions of lives worldwide and champions' education, basic business training, microcredit, entrepreneurship, and 'heart' as potential solutions."

 

[disprincessatheart]

why did it take 20 years? I don't wish anything bad for a nun who seems to be doing good things, but I kinda think there might be a statute of limitations on something like this.

 

[auroralark]

why did it take 20 years? I don't wish anything bad for a nun who seems to be doing good things, but I kinda think there might be a statute of limitations on something like this.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

 

[jcb]

Simplifying it, the copyright statute of limitations starts with each violation. Sister Act continues to be performed. I think there's even a musical. The nun might not get to recover for the original release of Sister Act, the movie, but for the showings of the movie within the 3 year limitations period.

If you want an answer from a real copyright lawyer read this blog.

http://williampatry.blogspot.com/2005/05/statute-of-limitations-part-one.html

 

[WorldWacky]

I would then I like to know who I sue for the show "The Middle". Clearly they got the idea from my household!