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May 20, 2009
No Tim Lennox Biographical Films Allowed
I know the children of Rev. and Mrs. Martin Luther King have a history of fighting for the rights (and profits) from anything dealing with their parents. But can someone explain to me how they can possible expect to get a legal ruling blocking someone from making a documentary because they have not given their permission???? Here's the story.
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It seems the duo asserts "their" joint property, or certainly property in litigation, was used to make the film without their express permission.
ReplyDeleteThe Lone Ranger could be pressed to prove he owns what he brought to the table while the project hangs in limbo.
This one could get ugly.
"...could get ugly"?
ReplyDeleteIt already is!
The King "legacy" is that his children are leeching off their father's name. Gotta' milk that cash cow somehow, you know!
What's next? Assessing a fee upon history books and every other article which may mention the King name?
Why, it's intellectual terrorism, to be certain!
I think that since DreamWorks obtained some type of permission (according to the story) producer Steven Spielberg must be wanting to use some historical articles that may be part of the MLK estate or museum.
This is what the linked story had to say about the issue: "DreamWorks said this was the first such project about him to be officially authorized by the King Estate..."
But this sentence is quite, and unfortunately telling: "The King siblings have battled in court..."
Apparently, they're self-destructing.
The MLK estate has been very vigorous about protecting King's speeches via copyright and intellectual property rights. It would be difficult for Spielberg to make a movie without use of MLK's most famous speeches, which are controlled by the family.
ReplyDeleteCBS tried to use the speeches without paying royalties to the estate and was sued in a famous case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estate_of_Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.,_Inc._v._CBS,_Inc.
Sheesh!
ReplyDeleteUsing "I have a dream..." (without begging) could land you in the Birmingham Jail, or perhaps more accurately, bedeviled by a swarm of corporate litigators - forget the alligators!
Hah!
Then, there'd be another book - Letters to King, Inc., from the Birmingham Jail.
Apparently, the court never decided the issue, and instead, CBS put money into King, Inc.'s coffers - not as a mea culpa - but more like "here's some money... now shut up and go away."
Reckon how the flim... er, film will treat his philandering?