The Supreme Court pondered Tuesday whether the daughter of the man whose work was the basis of the Oscar-winning movie Raging Bull should go another round with a major movie studio over copyright infringement for ownership of boxer Jake LaMotta’s life story.
The Raging Bull case involves an appeal from Paula Petrella, the daughter of Frank Petrella, whose written work inspired the movie. Frank Petrella collaborated with his friend LaMotta on two screenplays and a book, which were used to make the movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro. The 1980 film won two Oscars, including best actor for De Niro.
The elder Petrella died in 1981, with his copyrights reverting to his daughter. She sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. for copyright infringement for creating and distributing copies of the movie, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said she waited too long before filing her lawsuit.
Now she wants justices to resurrect her lawsuit. They will make a decision later this year.
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