Hollywood Docket: Lionsgate Alleges 'Before the Devil' Video Scam

Posted by Matthew Heller

Case: Lions Gate Films v. Image Entertainment, Case No. BC 385962 (Los Angeles County Superior Ct.), filed Feb. 21

Claims: Intentional interference with contract, conspiracy

Allegations: As part of a home video distribution deal, ThinkFilm, the theatrical distributor of "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," was obligated to deliver the film to Lions Gate. "Despite being aware that Lions Gate was entitled to the home video distribution rights," producer David Bergstein, who acquired ThinkFilm in 2006, has "fraudulently misappropriated the home video rights so that they would be granted to Bergstein's potential acquisition, Image Entertainment."

Filing attorney: Louis Miller, Miller Barondess, Century City

Case: Mayfield Online Trust v. Moniker Online Services, Case No. 08-CV-0578 (USDC, N. Ga.), filed Feb. 21

Claims: Cybersquatting, unfair competition, trademark infringement

Allegations: Plaintiff owns and licenses the rights to the works of R&B legend Curtis Mayfield. Moniker has infringed on those rights by using Internet domain name(s) "that contain, or are confusingly similar to, Curtis Mayfield's name" to attract consumers who are searching for legitimate Mayfield websites. "Defendants use the Infringing Domains to divert these consumers to 'parked' websites, including sites with links to the Mayfield Family Trust's competitors and other businesses, the central purpose of which is to maximize 'domain parking revenue.'"

Filing attorney: James Voyles, Voyles Milhollin, Kennesaw, Ga.