Source: https://www.scribd.com/doc/82339753/Godfather-Complaint-1
Timestamp: 2019-02-20 09:24:29
Document Index: 9880433

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1', 'ARTY 25', '§ 101', '§ 1114', '§ 1331', '§ 1121', '§ 1391', '§ 106', '§ 501', '§ 1114', '§ 1125', '§ 1114']

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ANTHONY =uzo, AS EXEc'o\tJ~C)t:RJJ)PfCFjlEt§§1P"'1~Pf MARIO PUZO .\ I ~U,j i
Gage Spencer & Fleming LLP 410 Park Avenue, 9th Floor
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FILING ANO WRITE A BRIEF STATEMENT OF CAUSE) DIVERSITY)
17 U.s.C. sees. 101 et seq. (copyright infrgmnt); 15 U.s.C. sees 1114 and 1125 (trademark infrgmnt and false designat'n)
Has this or a similar case been previously filed in SDNY at any time? No? If yes, was this case Vol.D lnvol.
If yes, give date OF SUIT
TORTS PERSONAL CONTRACT [ ]110 INSURANCE [ ]120 MARINE [ ) 130 MIl.LER ACT [ 1140 NEGOTlABI.E INSTRUMENT 1150 RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENT & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT I ]151 MEDICARE ACT [ ]152 RECOVERY OF DEFAUI.TED STUDENT I.OAN~ (EXCL VETERANS) I 1153 RECOVERY orOVERPAYMENT OF VETERAN'S BENEFITS I 1160 STOCKHOLDERS SUITS [ ]190 OTHER CONTRACT [ ]195 CONTRAOT PRODUCT LlA8IUTY' [ ]196 FRANCHISE INJURY PERSONAL INJURY
FORFEITURE/PENAL
BANKRUPTCY ( ]422 APPEAL
OTHER STATUTES STATE REAPPORTIONMENT ANTITRUST OANKS & BANKI NG COM MERCE DEPORTATION RACKETEER INFLUENCED & CORRUPT ORGANIZATION ACT (RICO) [ I 480 CONSUMER CREDIT [ I 490 CABLE/SATELliTE lY [ 1810 SELECTIVE SERVICE [ J 850 SECURITIES/ COMMODITIESI EXCHANGE I ] 875 CUSTOMER CHALLENGE 12 USC 3410 [ ]890 OTHER STATUTORY ACTIONS I J 891 AGRICULTURAL ACTS I J 892 ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT [ J 893 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS [ ] 894 ENERGY ALLOCATION ACT 1]895 r-REEDOM OF INFORMATION An 9DO APPEAL OF FEE DETERMINATION UNDER EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE I ]950 CONSTITUTIONALITY' OF STATE STATUTES
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[ J 330 340 345
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[ ]362 [ ]365 [ ]368
PERSONAL INJURYMED MALPRACTICE PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCT LlABIUlY ASBESTOS PERSONAL IN.!URY PRODUCT LIABILITY PROPERTY
[ ]630 [ ]640 [ J 650
[ J 660 I J 690
I 1370 I J 371 I 138D I ]385
OTHER FRAUD TRUTH IN LENDING OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMP.GE PROPI'Rl"{ DAMAGe PROD UCT LlAB ILlTY'
AGRIC UL TURE Onl~R FOOD & DRUG DRUG RELATED SEIZURE OF PROPERTY 21 USC 881 UQUORLAWS RR&TRUCK AIRLINE REGS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY/HEALTH OlHER
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28 USC 159 [ ]423 WITHDRAWAL 28 USC 157
]410 ]430 ] 450 J 460 J 470
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SOCIAL SEC U RlTY
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[ ]730 [ ]7~O
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FAIR LAGOR STANDARDS ACT LABORlMGMT RELATIONS LABORlMGMT REPORTING DISCLOSURe ACl RAILWAY LABOR AOT OTHER LA80R LITIGATION EMPL RET INC SECURITY' ACT I I
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UN OER STATUTES PRISONER PETITIONS
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[ 1791
TAXES (U.S Plaintiff or Delelldanl) IRS,THIRD PARTY 25 USC 7609
I 210 LAND CONDEMNATION I 1220 FORECLOSURE I , 230 RENT LEASE & EJECTMENT ( ]240 TORTS TO LAND ( ]245 TORT PROIJUC r LIABILITY [ ]290 ALL OTHER REAl. PROPERTY
[ J 441 VOTING I ]442 EMPLOYMENT [ ]443 HOUSING/
[ ]530 I J 535 I J 540 I J 550 [ J 555
[ ]444 WELFARE [ J 445 A.M[RICANS [ ]4·16
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WITH DISAOILITIES EMPLOY.M[NT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ,OTHER OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS
MOTIONS TO VACATE SENTE NCE 20 USO 2255 HABEAS CORPUS DEATH PENALTY' MANDAMUS & OTHER CIVI L RIG HTS PRISON CONDITION
[ ]462 [ ]463 [ ]485
NATURALIZATION APPLICATION HABEAS CORPUSALIEN DETAINEE OTHER IMMIGRAnON ACliONS
Check if demanded in_complaint;
IF THIS IS A CLASS UNDER F.RC.P. 23
DO YOU CLAIM THIS CASE IS RELATED TO A CIVIL CASE NOW PENDING IN S.D.N.Y.? IF SO, STATE: ~ JUDGE DOCKETNUMBER __
Check YES only if demanded in complaint JURY DEMAND: DYES I..2J NO
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PTF OEF CITIZEN OR SU BJECT OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY INCORPORATED Or PRINCIPAL pLACE OF BIJSINESS INTHIS STATE
INCORPORATIZO and PRINCIPAL PLACE Of ilUSINESS IN ANOTHER STATE [4 FOREIGN NATION
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ADtJRESS(ES) AND COUNTY(IES)
Paramount Pictures Corporation (Los Angeles, California)
ADDRESS(ES} ANtJ COUNTY(IES)
Anthony Puzo, as representative of Estate of Mario PUlO (New York, New York)
DILIGENCE, TO ASCERTAIN THE
REPRESENTATION IS HEREBY MADE THAT, AT THIS TIME, [HAVE BEEN UNABLE, WITH REASONABLE RESIDENCE ADDRESSES OF THE FOLLOWING DEFENDANTS;
[(] MANHATTAN
SIGt-JATURE OF ATTORNEY OF I}.ECORD
Judge is to be designated Judge Clerk ~
by the Clerk of the Court,
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, is so Designated.
Ruby J, Krajick,
JUOGE NATHAN
UNITED ST ATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NE\V YORK
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PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION, Plaintiff, - againstANTHONY PUZO, AS EXECUTOR ESTATE OF MARIO PUZO, OF THE COl'vlPLAINT
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NATURE OF TI-IIS ACTION 1. This civil action is based
and seeks injunctive relief and damages to redress,
ongoing and prospective violations of the federal Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., and of the federal trademark laws, 15 U.S.C. § 1114 and 1125(a). It also seeks to protect the integrity and reputation of The Godfather trilogy, one of the most acclaimed and beloved artistic works of the past 50 years. 2. In 1969, plaintiff Paramount Pictures Corporation ("Paramount") purchased from author Mario Puzo ("Puzo") the copyright interest in Puzo's novel The
the now-deceased
Godfather. By written agreements executed on November 28,1969, Puzo granted to Paramount, among other rights, "any and all copyrights therein and all rights now known or hereafter accruing therein and thereto, forever and throughout the world, together with the sole and exclusive right to use said work, in whole or in part, in whatever manner the Purchaser [i.e., Paramount] may desire, including, but not limited to, the sale and exclusive right: to make and cause to be made literary and dramatic and other versions and adaptations of every kind and character of said work or any part or parts thereof and/or any or all of the characters created
101781.1 J2.86268.1
[and] to adapt, arrange, change, interpolate in, transpose, add to and subtract from
said work to such extent as the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, may desire in connection with any use which the Purchaser may make of said work." 3. After acquiring the aforementioned rights, Paramount adapted The Godfather
novel into three highly-acclaimed motion pictures, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. 4. Puzo died in 1999. After his death, the Puzo Est.ate expressed interest
publishing additional Godfather "sequel novels," to be written by new authors. 5. In 2002, in an attempt to accommodate the Puzo Estate while preserving the Godfather franchise, Paramount and the Puzo Estate entered into a that Paramount had no
integrity of Paramount's Memorandum
of Agreement, under which the parties acknowledged
objection to the Puzo estate granting Random House the right to publish one (but only one) "Sequel Novel" to The Godfather. The Memorandum of Agreement also stated that "The Estate contends that it shall have the right to publish subsequent novels after the Sequel Novel without the consent of [Paramount] and [Paramount] contends to the contrary. Both parties reserve their rights and contentions with respect to subsequent sequels. Notwithst.anding the foregoing, the
Estate acknowledges that [Paramount] is the sole and exclusive owner of all motion picture, television, and allied right.s in and to the Novel [i.e., The Godfather] and the Sequel Novel." A first sequel novel, entitled The Godfather Returns, was published in 2004 pursuant to said Memorandum of Agreement. 6. In 2006, without Paramount's knowledge or authorization, the Puzo Estate
published a second sequel novel, entitled The Godfather'S Revenge, which received mediocre reviews and suffered weak sales. Far from properly honoring the legacy of The Godfather, the unauthorized The Godfather'S Revenge tarnished it, and in the process, also misled consumers
l0178U
128626B.l
connection with advertising, marketing, and promotional material related to the first and On information and belief, the Puzo Estate intends to use the Godfather
second sequel novels.
Marks in connection with the advertising, marketing, and promotion of the third sequel novel. The Puzo Estate is, on information and belief, aware of Paramount's ownership of the Godfather Marks. Yet it did not seek, and has not sought, permission from Paramount before using
Paramount's protected trademark interests for commercial gain. 11. declaratory Accordingly, Paramount brings this action for damages, injunctive, and of
relief against the Puzo Estate in connection with its ongoing infringement
Paramount's copyright and trademark interests. PARTIES 12. Plaintiff Paramount Pictures Corporation is a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business in Los Angeles, California. 13. Defendant Anthony Puzo is the son of Mario Puzo and is the duly appointed Defendant is a resident of New
representative of the Estate of Mario Puzo (the "Puzo Estate"). York. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 14. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction
over Paramount's
claims under 28
U.S.c. § 1331 and 1338, and 15 U.S.c. § 1121, in that these copyright and trademark claims arise under the laws of the United States. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because he is a resident of the State of New York, and because the Puzo Estate has committed and has announced plans to commit numerous infringing acts in the State of New York and this District.
lOl78U
1286268.1
Venue in this Court is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 and 1400(a), in that,
on information and belief, Defendant may be found in this District and a substantial part of the events or giving rise to the claim occurred and are occurring in this District
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION FOR FEDERAL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
16. Paramount realleges and incorporates by reference each of the foregoing
paragraphs as though fully set forth herein. 17. Paramount owns the copyright, and all rights, title, and interest thereto, in the including the right to create derivative works thereto. The 1969
novel The Godfather,
agreements between Paramount and Puzo reserved to Paramount all rights in The Godfather novel except the publication rights in that original novel. Puzo did not reserve any rights to
publish a sequel to The Godfather. Thus, after execution of the 1969 agreements, Puzo retained no rights of any kind in the Godfather novel except for the right to publish that original novel in book form. 18. In its 2002 Memorandum of Agreement with the Puzo Estate, Paramount agreed publication of a single sequel novel. However, the
not to object to the Puzo Estate's
Memorandum of Agreement did not grant the Puzo Estate the right to publish subsequent sequels or to create any other derivative works based upon The Godfather. 19. After the execution of the 2002 Memorandum of Agreement, among its other
rights, Paramount continued to own all rights in and to The Godfather novel except for (a) Puzo's reserved right to publish the original novel and (b) the Puzo Estate's right to publish a single Paramount-authorized 20. sequel novel.
In addition to its copyright in the novel The Godfather, Paramount also owns the
entire copyright in the films The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and The Godfather Part III.
LOI78 Ll 1286268.1
Collectively, Paramount's rights in the novel The Godfather and the three The Godfather films are referred to herein as the "Godfather Works." 21. The Godfather Works are original works of authorship owned by Paramount and
are copyrightable subject matter under the laws of the United States. 22. Paramount is the owner of registered copyrights for each of the Godfather Works.
Copies of the relevant registrations are attached to this complaint as Exhibits 1 through 4. 23. The Puzo Estate has infringed upon, has continued to infringe upon, and has copyright interests in the Godfather
declared its intention to further infringe upon Paramount's
Works, by publishing the second sequel novel The Godfather's Revenge and by announcing its intention to publish The Family Corleone. 24. The Puzo Estate had access to at all relevant times, and did access, each of the
Godfather Works. 25. to infringe The PUZQEstate has infringed upon, and has announced its intention to continue upon, Paramount's copyright interest in the Godfather Works through the
unauthorized and unlawful creation of derivative works substantially similar to the Godfather Works, violating Paramount's exclusive right to create derivative works granted under 17 U.S.c. § 106(2). 26. Paramount is informed and believes and on that basis alleges that the Puzo Estate Nonetheless, the Puzo
had full knowledge that its acts were and are wrongful and unlawful.
Estate has continued to infringe on Paramount's copyrights, throughout the United States, even after Paramount informed the Puzo Estate by letter and other correspondence that its actions constituted wrongful infringement. copyright infringement copyright infringement Upon information and belief, the Puzo Estate's acts of
were committed both with knowledge that their conduct constituted and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain.
101781.1
Thus, the Puzo Estate's copyright infringement was and is willful pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §§ 501 et seq. 27. determined By reason of the foregoing, Paramount has suffered damages in an amount to be at trial, and is entitled, at its election, to either (a) all damages suffered by
Paramount, along with all gains, profits, and advantages derived by the Puzo Estate from its acts of infringement, plus exemplary or punitive damages in amounts to be proven at trial, (b) statutory damages as provided for in the Copyright Act. fees as available by law. 28. Paramount has suffered and will suffer irreparable harm as a result of the Puzo Paramount is also entitled to attorney's
Estate's infringing conduct, and lacks an adequate remedy at law for the injury threatened by the Puzo Estate, in that Paramount will suffer intangible injuries, including the loss of customer goodwill, damage to consumer perceptions about the Godfather Works, the loss of control over its copyrighted works, and injury to Paramount's reputation with its licensees and its customers. Paramount is entitled under the Copyright Act to provisional and permanent relief enjoining the Puzo Estate's infringements. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGE:MENT (15 U.S.c. § 1114) 29. Paramount realleges and incorporates by reference each of the foregoing
paragraphs as though fully set forth herein. 30. distinctive Paramount owns various United States trademark registrations that include the design of The Godfather trademark, including USPTO Reg. Nos. 1,674,068; Copies of
1,707,295; 3,159,811; 3,159,762; 3,432,881; 3,432,882; 3,437,926; and 3,628,838.
the relevant trademark registrations are set forth on Exhibit 5 hereto. Paramount has also filed several trademark applications in connection with related marks, including USPTO Application
IOI78U
Nos. 85387110, 77769544, 77795896, and 77795903.
these registrations
applications are referred to herein as the "Godfather Marks." 31. The Puzo Estate's actions and planned actions in connection with the sale,
offering for sale, distribution, andlor advertising of goods bearing the Godfather Marks in interstate commerce, without the consent of Paramount, constitutes infringement of the
Godfather Marks and has caused or is likely to cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake, or deception. 32. Paramount has suffered damages as a result of the Puzo Estate's acts of
infringement in an amount to be proven at trial. In addition, as a result of the Puzo Estate's acts of infringement, Paramount has suffered and, unless those acts are enjoined by the Court, will continue to suffer irreparable harm for which it has no adequate remedy at law. 33. The Puzo Estate's actions have been knowing, intentional, wanton, and willful,
entitling Paramount to treble damages, statutory damages, attorneys' fees, and costs. THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION FOR FALSE DESIGNATION (15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)) 34. Paramount realleges and incorporates by reference OF ORIGIN each of the foregoing
paragraphs as though fully set forth herein. 35. The Puzo Estate's actions and planned actions in connection with the sale,
offering for sale, distribution,
andlor advertising of goods bearing the Godfather Marks in
interstate commerce, without the consent of Paramount, constitutes a false designation of origin and has caused or is likely to cause a likelihood of confusion, mistake, and deception as to source, sponsorship, affiliation, andlor connection in the minds of the public. 36. Paramount has suffered damages as a result of the Puzo Estate's acts of unfair
competition in an amount to be proven at triaL In addition, as a result of the Puzo Estate's acts
10l781.11286268.[
of unfair competition, Paramount has suffered and, unless those acts are enjoined by the Court, will continue to suffer irreparable harm for which it has no adequate remedy at law. 37. The Puzo Estate's actions have been knowing, intentional, wanton, and willful,
entitling Paramount to treble damages, statutory damages, atlorneys' fees, and costs. FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION FOR DECLARATORY RELIEF 38. Paramount realleges and incorporates by reference each of the foregoing
paragraphs as though fully set forth herein. 39. An actual controversy has arisen and now exists between Paramount, on the one
hand, and the Puzo Estate, on the other, as to whether the Puzo Estate's publication of sequel novels to The Godfather infringes upon Paramount's copyright interests in the Godfather Works. 40. An actual controversy has also arisen has arisen and now exists between
Paramount, on the one hand, and the Puzo Estate, on the other, as to whether the Puzo Estate's use of the Godfather Marks in connection with the promotion and marketing of The Godfather's Revenge and The Family Corleone constitutes trademark infringement and/or unfair competition and false designation of origin under the federal trademark laws. 41. By reason of the foregoing, Paramount is entitled to a declaration that the sequel
works The Godfather's Revenge and The Family Corleone infringe upon Paramount's copyright interests in the Godfather Works. 42. Paramount is also entitled to a declaration that the Puzo Estate's unauthorized use
of the Godfather Marks constitutes trademark infringement and/or unfair competition and false designation of origin under the federal trademark laws.
l01781.1
PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment as follows:
A declaration that the Puzo Estate has infringed Paramount's copyright interests trademark
under 17 U.S.C. 501, and that the Puzo Estate has infringed Paramount's
interests under] 5 U.S.c. §§ 1114 & 1125;
A temporary restraining order; A preliminary and permanent injunction; Statutory and compensatory damages according to proof; Punitive and exemplary damages for the willful, reckless, and wanton nature of
the Puzo Estate's acts; x.
An award of costs, expenses, and attorney's fees; All further relief as is just and proper, in the determination of the Court.
Dated: New York, New York February 17, ~012 GAGE SPENCER & FLEMING LLP
BY:/~ G. Robert Gage, Jr. (GG-3951) William B. Fleming (WF -0411) 410 Park Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY 10022 Tel: (212) 768-4900 Fax: (212) 768-3629 grgage@ gagespencer.com Local Counsel to Plaintiff Paramount Pictures Corporation Richard B. Kendall Nicholas F. Daum KENDALL BRILL & KLIEGER L12 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1725 Los Angeles, California 90067 Tel: (310)556-2700
101781.1 1286268.1
Fax: (310)556-270 Attorneys for Plaintiff Paramount Pictures Corporation
101781.11286268.1