METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER, INC., et al., Plaintiffs, v. AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC., et al., Defendants., 900 F. Supp. 1287

Summary

Plaintiffs, owners of registered copyrights to several James Bond films, sought to enjoin defendants from running a commercial for an automobile which plaintiffs alleged infringed their copyright in the films by intentionally copying specific scenes from them and infringed their copyright in the James Bond character as delineated in those films. Defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that plaintiffs did not own exclusive rights to the character, any similarities between films and defendants' commercial were not protected by copyright and there was no substantial similarity between copyrighted works and defendants' commercial. Plaintiffs' motion for injunctive relief was granted and defendants' motion was denied. Plaintiffs established the probability of success on the merits; they had acquired a copyright to the James Bond character from their copyright ownership of the film series and defendants' commercial was substantially similar in terms of theme, plot, mood and ...