Grosso v. Miramax Film Corp.

Grosso v. Miramax

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Argued: April 7, 2003

Decided: September 8, 2004

Full case name: Jeff Grosso v. Miramax Film Corp.
Citations: 383 F.3d 965
Holding
A screenwriter's claim for breach of implied contract is not preempted by Federal Copyright Law.
Court membership
Chief Judge: Mary M. Schroeder
Associate Judges: Thompson, Graber
Case opinions
Majority by:: Mary M. Schroeder
Joined by: Thompson, Graber
Laws applied
Desney v. Wilder, 46 Cal.2d 715 (1956).

Grosso v. Miramax, 383 F.3d 965 (9th Cir. 2004), was an entertainment law case in which the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a screenwriter's claim for breach of implied contract was not preempted by United States federal copyright law, because the screenwriter's claim alleged an extra element that transformed the action from one arising under the ambit of the federal copyright statute to one sounding in contract.

Facts

Jeff Grosso, the author of a screenplay entitled "The Shell Game," claimed that Miramax stole the ideas and themes of his work when it made the movie "Rounders."

Issue

Did the District Court properly dismiss Grosso's state law causes of action for breach of contract as preempted by the federal Copyright Act?

Result

The Ninth Circuit found that the District Court erred in concluding that a screenwriter's claim for breach of implied contract was preempted by Federal Copyright Law. In so holding, the Court reasoned that Grosso's claim alleged an extra element that transformed the action from one arising under the ambit of the federal copyright statute to one sounding in contract. After remand to the California state courts, Grosso's implied contract claim was found to be without merit. Summary judgment was entered against Grosso. On appeal, the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, affirmed the summary judgment, and awarded the defendants their costs of suit.

External links

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