A complaint claiming that 'Top Gun: Maverick' violates the copyright of the 1983 magazine article that served as the inspiration for the first movie was launched against Paramount.
According to Variety, the lawsuit was launched in June by Ehud Yonay's widow and son, Shosh and Yuval Yonay, who claim that the studio produced the sequel without first renewing the rights to the work. Variety further reports that in their petition to dismiss, Paramount contended that it did not need to acquire the rights because the non-fiction article's facts and ideas cannot be protected by copyright and "Top Gun: Maverick" is a work of fiction with essentially nothing in common with it.
"Any similarity between these vastly different works derives from the fact that Top Gun is an actual naval training facility...Plaintiffs do not have a monopoly over works about Top Gun," the studio's lawyers argued.
Yonay's piece was used as the basis for the 1986 film adaptation of 'Top Gun,' which was licensed by Paramount. After 35 years, copyright law enables authors to regain their creations.
Variety reports that Yonay passed away in 2012, but his widow and son filed a notice in 2018 terminating the studio's copyright to the article.
According to Variety, the complaint goes to great effort to show how many claimed parallels there are between the article and the sequel. The complaint asserts that Yonay employed "vivid and cinematic" language to breathe life into what may have otherwise been a mere recitation of facts.
Paramount, in turn, stresses the dissimilarities between the two works. Additionally, according to the motion of the studio, some similarities are just everyday features that nobody could claim to possess.
Paramount stated, "Elite fighter pilots loving to fly and being dedicated to their craft and competitive, are facts described in the article...plaintiffs do not have a monopoly over these (unremarkable) facts merely because Yonay once reported on them."
Variety further reports that the Yonays have requested a court order that would prevent Paramount from making money off of the movie, which has earned $1.4 billion worldwide. According to Paramount, the injunction should be rejected since they have little prospect of succeeding in their allegation of intellectual property infringement.
On September 26, a hearing is scheduled.
(ANI)
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.