(2014) Tags: Fox
Clark v. Dashner
Plaintiff Clark initiated this action against Defendant’s motion picture The Maze Runner, alleging infringement on Plaintiff’s copyright of The Maze, a novel.
Plaintiffs allege that the concept of The Maze—including the idea of a giant maze with moving walls and robotic creatures—is Plaintiff Clark’s original work. In 2004, Plaintiff Clark published an original version of The Maze; and in June 2005, Plaintiff Bau Publishing Group published The Maze. Also in June 2005, Plaintiff entered into a book distribution and sale agreement with Barnes & Noble, Inc. and various other booksellers.
In 2006, Defendant James Dashner started writing The Maze Runner. In 2009, Defendant Dashner copyrighted The Maze Runner. That same year, Defendant Random House, L.L.C. published The Maze Runner.
Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief for the alleged copyright infringement. Plaintiff also alleges an infringement claim against Defendant Twentieth Century Fox for the screenplay of the film The Maze Runner.
Judgment: Plaintiff’s claims are Dismissed with prejudice.