MGM and Amazon file countersuit in copyright infringement case against ‘Road House’

Legal Battle Erupts Over “Road House” Remake Rights

A legal battle is brewing over the remake of the iconic film “Road House,” with MGM Studios filing counterclaims against the original film’s screenwriter over the rights to the 1986 screenplay. The dispute has escalated into a complex legal tussle involving allegations of fraud and copyright infringement.

The studio and its parent company, Amazon, have accused the screenwriter, who goes by the pseudonym David Lee Henry, of lying to the U.S. Copyright Office about his authorship of the screenplay. The screenwriter had attempted to reclaim the rights to his work, triggering a series of legal actions that have now culminated in a countersuit filed in California federal court.

The lawsuit alleges that the screenwriter misrepresented the true authorship of the screenplay and attempted to take advantage of copyright law provisions to reclaim the rights to his work. The studio contends that the screenplay was created as a work-made-for-hire under the screenwriter’s production banner, Lady Amos, and that he does not have the legal right to reclaim the rights.

The legal wrangling also involves allegations of fraudulent ownership claims and breaches of contract. The studio is seeking a court order to invalidate the screenwriter’s copyright registration and is pursuing a claim for breach of contract for allegedly reneging on provisions of a deal struck in 1986.

The dispute underscores the complexities of intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry and the challenges faced by creators and studios in navigating the legal landscape. As the legal battle unfolds, the future of the “Road House” remake remains uncertain, with both sides digging in their heels in a high-stakes legal showdown.