Supreme Court Revives ‘Raging Bull’ Lawsuit
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a copyright lawsuit over the 1980 Oscar-winning movie “Raging Bull” can go forward, a decision that could open Hollywood studios to more claims from people seeking a share of profits from classic films and TV shows.
In a 6-3 decision, the justices said that Paula Petrella, daughter of the late screenwriter Frank Petrella, did not wait too long to file her lawsuit against Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer claiming an interest in the film.
Petrella’s father collaborated with legendary boxer Jake LaMotta on a book and two screenplays, which inspired the movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro. The elder Petrella died in 1981 and the copyrights passed to his daughter.