New Regency Sues Director Michael Mann, Asking Court to Void His Notices Reclaiming the 'Heat' Screenplay Copyright
New Regency sued director Michael Mann in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday, November 13, asking the court to declare three copyright termination notices Mann served on the company null and void, so that the company retains the rights to the screenplay of the 1995 crime film 'Heat,' according to The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.
According to the reports, New Regency argues in its complaint that the 'Heat' screenplay is a work made for hire and therefore not eligible for copyright termination under 17 U.S.C. § 203, and that the company retains all rights to the screenplay. The lawsuit comes as a sequel to 'Heat' moves toward production; the sequel is based on the 2022 novel by Mann and Meg Gardiner, with Mann again writing and directing.
A spokesperson for Mann responded that the filing concerns original writing Mann did on multiple screenplays during the 1980s, which evolved into the 1995 film he wrote, produced and directed, and that after 40 years Mann is exercising the statutory right of authors to reclaim their work. Mann will vigorously defend the action and is confident the courts will vindicate his rights under the Copyright Act, the spokesperson said, adding that the filing is unrelated to the production of 'Heat 2,' which will begin shooting on January 19.
'Heat,' released in 1995, was written, produced and directed by Michael Mann and starred Robert De Niro and Al Pacino; it is regarded as a classic of the crime genre.
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap, reporting on the Los Angeles federal court filing)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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Photo: 图：导演 Michael Mann（资料图）。Greg2600 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Director Michael Mann (file photo). By Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
