Paramount Scores Again as ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Script Lawsuit Takes a Hit
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit related to the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick, marking the second legal setback for the plaintiff in a week. U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff ruled against Shaun Gray’s copyright claims regarding contributions to the film’s script.
Judge Rakoff’s decision not only invalidated Gray’s claims but also allowed for Paramount’s counterclaims to proceed, as noted in an August filing. “Paramount moves for summary judgment on Gray’s remaining claim of copyright infringement, arguing that Gray’s infringement claim must be dismissed for various reasons, one of which is that Gray’s own copyright is invalid,” he stated in his opinion. “Because the Court agrees with that argument, it need not address Paramount’s other arguments.”
Gray, who is the cousin and occasional assistant of credited co-writer Eric Warren Singer, has previously alleged that he helped craft key scenes for the film after receiving encouragement from the military advisor Captain JJ “Yank” Cummings. In his initial suit, he claimed to have authored pivotal parts of the screenplay that contributed to the film’s successful action sequences.
Paramount countered Gray’s assertions by highlighting that he had not communicated his contributions until much later, painting a picture of misrepresentation. Judge Rakoff agreed, referencing that the original Top Gun was fully copyrighted by Paramount, asserting that Gray’s alleged contributions were fundamentally tied to the established Top Gun universe, including its characters, settings, and plot elements.
The judge also acknowledged Paramount’s fraud counterclaim, which alleges that Gray’s failure to disclose his role in writing scenes devalued the studio’s intellectual property. “For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants Paramount’s motion for summary judgment and denies Gray’s motion for summary judgment,” Judge Rakoff concluded. “Specifically, Gray’s claim for copyright infringement is dismissed, and Paramount’s counterclaims of copyright infringement and fraud are preserved for trial.”
With Judge Rakoff’s ruling, the case is now set for future proceedings, adding a new layer of complexity to the legal landscape surrounding Top Gun: Maverick.
