Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

(1968)   Tags: United Artists

Legislator 1357 Limited v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

Plaintiffs claim ownership of the late Ian Fleming’s copyright in the story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: the Magical Car, and assert that Defendants have infringed the renewed copyright by distributing the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie based on that story. Plaintiffs move for partial summary judgment on the issue of defendants’ liability for copyright infringement. Defendants argue that plaintiffs do not own the film rights to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, alternatively, that equitable doctrines bar relief.

Judgment: While plaintiffs have demonstrated ownership of the film rights in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, defendants have raised a genuine issue of disputed fact as to whether plaintiffs should be equitably estopped from suing defendants for copyright infringement. Plaintiffs have also failed to offer any evidence that Danjaq and Eon have infringed the copyright in the Work. For the foregoing reasons, plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment on the liability of defendants for copyright infringement is denied, and summary judgment is granted in favor of Danjaq and Eon on plaintiffs’ claims against those two entities.