Hayden Christensen sues USA Network

[mysterydriver]

Over Royal Pains...and wins (well...for now).

www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hayden-christensen-royal-pains-usa-lawsuit-342497

Apparently, in 2005, Christensen (and his brother) pitched to USA a TV show called Housecall, in which a doctor, after being expelled from the medical community for treating patients who couldn't pay, moves to Malibu and attends to the rich and famous.

Then, in 2009, came Royal Pains, in which a doctor is expelled from the medical community for treating a patient who couldn't pay over a rich patient who later dies, moves to the Hamptons, and attends the rich and famous.

Hmmm....

Anyway, I personally find this interesting because if it is upheld (it was threw out once, and the second judge has sided with Christensen so you know USA is going to appeal), it would cause a crazy precedent where pitch meetings could be lawsuit material if similar ideas appear.

Could you imagine the lawsuits back in the early 2000s over "HEY! I pitched an idea about a dumb husband with a hot wife who knows everything! They stole my idea!"

[WarChief]

I hope he gets nothing. That's what you get for that dumb hospital surgery movie.

[Cyno]

Hayden actually has a case here. Usually cases based on generalities are thrown out quickly, but the two concepts' specifics are similar enough where Hayden has a case that USA ripped him off.

[Red Impact]

If he really did pitch that exact idea to them, then I think he's in the right for going after them. The idea is specific enough for that.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

Judge: "Mr. Christensen, you are correct that the USA network stole your idea, but you starred in 'Jumper', so CASE DISMISSED!"

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

Depends on how extensive the pitch was I guess. Ideas aren't protected, only the expression of them. Was it "fixed in a tangible medium of expression"



Actually read the article and realized that this isn't a copyright claim

When, in 2009, USA introduced Royal Pains, a show with a similar concept, which caused the Christensens to sue. Most importantly, the Christensens didn't allege copyright infringement, but rather a red hot claim known as breach of implied contract. Under such a claim, when an idea is submitted and accepted for review, as the Christensens asserted here, there's an expectation that if the material is later used, the writer will get something

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Jun 27, 2012 14:50:10 GMT -5 Confused Mark Wahlberg said:

Judge: "Mr. Christensen, you are correct that the USA network stole your idea, but you turned Darth Vader emo, so CASE DISMISSED!"

[Ryushinku]

"I'm afraid I have to rule against you, Mr. Christensen, and..."

"Gahhhh!"

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Can we sue him for trespassing on Endor?

[Deleted]

Can they countersue for his acting in Episodes 2-3?

EDIT: Fixed a stupid error. Let's not bring Jake Lloyd into this...

[Yami Daimao]

Jun 27, 2012 16:52:24 GMT -5 @mdoggdx316 said:

Can they countersue for his acting in Episodes 1-3?

He wasn't in 1, but yes, at least I sure hope we can.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

he wasn;t in episode 1... but yeah someone should probably sue that whiny little shit who WAS in it.

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2012 17:07:11 GMT -5 Yami Daimao said:

Jun 27, 2012 16:52:24 GMT -5 @mdoggdx316 said:

Can they countersue for his acting in Episodes 1-3?

He wasn't in 1, but yes, at least I sure hope we can.

Ah yeah . I just thought prequels and put them all in.

[xCompackx]

It's funny how rare it is that someone actually DOES have a case in these kinds of lawsuits.

[Bones58]

I would probably find the legal paperwork for this case more interesting than Hayden's acting. I would probably find a shelf more interesting actually.

[DrBackflipsHoffman]

My sitcom idea for a group of generally unlikeable, annoying white people with no real problems to speak of and no friends that I pitched all those years ago is finally going to make me a millionaire

[Welfare Willis]

Jun 27, 2012 18:20:54 GMT -5 DrBackflipsHoffman said:

My sitcom idea for a group of generally unlikeable, annoying white people with no real problems to speak of and no friends that I pitched all those years ago is finally going to make me a millionaire

But they already made Friends.

Also see the real world.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Jun 27, 2012 18:20:54 GMT -5 DrBackflipsHoffman said:

My sitcom idea for a group of generally unlikeable, annoying white people with no real problems to speak of and no friends that I pitched all those years ago is finally going to make me a millionaire

hey it worked for Jerry Seinfeld