Local Author Accuses Sony of Stealing His Book to Make Movie

By Jeff Sandstoe Tue., Jul. 10 2012 at 1:15 PM

Categories: Local News

It appears that Sony has gotten so comfortable making movies from stories derived from comic books that it now has allegedly moved onto bigger things: Adapting novels. And while Sony had the rights to put Spider-Man on the big screen, the media company had no right ripping off this Berkeley man's novel, according to a lawsuit.

Joe Quirk, the author of The Ultimate Rush, a 1998 novel about a roller-blading courier in San Francisco (were there ever such things?), has filed a claim against Sony Pictures Entertainment, accusing the entertainment giant of copyright violations for the upcoming flick, Premium Rush.

Like Quirk's novel, the film, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and opens in August, revolves around Gordon-Levitt, a bike courier, only set in New York.

Quirk claims that he sent copies of his book to several different movie studios, hoping to turn his novel into a film. Needless to say, he was shocked when he heard about the eerily similar plot of Sony's new movie.

Sony has attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, but a federal judge denied the company's request. Now, Quirk must prove that the movie studio actually violated copyright laws. For starters, he must show that Sony in fact received a copy of the book. On top of that, the novelist would have to somehow prove that those who received his book knew for certain that Quirk was pitching the story to them for a potential film.

Whatever the outcome might be, this courtroom drama sounds like a decent storyline for a good movie. Or novel.

HT: Courthouse News

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