The ‘Heat’ Is On! Michael Mann & New Regency Clash In Ownership Battle Over Al Pacino & Robert De Niro 1995 Crime Classic
Michael Mann won’t start filming Heat 2 until early next year, but things are already heating up legally between the acclaimed director and New Regency when it comes to 1995 crime classic. After several attempts this year by the director to reclaim ownership of the original Heat screenplay under copyright termination, the Yariv Milchan-run company […]
Ahead of the "Heat" sequel's production, New Regency filed a lawsuit on Friday aimed at preventing filmmaker Michael Mann from regaining copyright over his original screenplay. In the federal court complaint, New Regency seeks a judge's declaration that Mann's three termination notices to the company are invalid, arguing that the "Heat" screenplay is not eligible for copyright termination under 17 U.S.C. § 203.
Additionally, New Regency maintains that Regency retains all rights to the screenplay. The studio claims Mann wrote the 1995 crime epic as a "work made for hire," a status that, according to the Copyright Act, makes the screenplay ineligible for termination under Section 203(a). New Regency's spokesperson emphasized that the lawsuit concerns the original and personal writing Mann contributed to multiple screenplays during the 1980s, culminating in the iconic "Heat."
The statement assured that the company will vigorously defend the action and expects the courts to uphold Mann's statutory rights under the Copyright Act. It is crucial to note that this matter is unrelated to the production of "Heat 2," which is set to begin shooting on January 19.
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- New Regency Sues Michael Mann to Reassert Ownership of ‘Heat’ thewrap.com
- New Regency Sues Michael Mann to Retain Rights to ‘Heat’ hollywoodreporter.com
