Royce Mathew Sues Disney over Pirates Script
Disneyland: Lawsuit filed against Disney for Pirates of the Caribbean film.
In a lawsuit filed today by Royce Mathew, a writer who penned a 'supernatural pirate tale', claims Disney Studios *stole* his ideas for "The Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.
"The Black Pearl" by Royce Mathew was penned in 1994 and was published in 1995. The suit claims *many* elements of the story were used to created the film. (To many to list here.)
For a full article:
http://www.disneylawsuit.com/
Why would Disney "steal" an idea?
From Ben Mills
Posted February 4, 2005 at 4:25 PM
That's an odd one. I don't think we should really go a-judging until we hear Disney's side of the story, but the writer guy sure makes a real good case. It does seem like there's a hell of a lot of stuff Disney have "stolen".
Then again, who would be stupid enough to steal that much and not expect anyone to notice? Only the most ignorant of companies would... oh, wait.
Disney does however have the rights to the pirate story. I think the guy does make a case, but maybe it's a councidence.
From Joe Lane
Posted February 4, 2005 at 7:09 PM
Royce's case does have some good credibility, but because Pirates released in July '03 and Mathew waited until January '05 to file the suit, seems like a lot of time to suddenly decide to sue for your property.
There have been lawsuits like this for Finding Nemo and Monster's Inc. But guess who won. Disney.
The guy doesn't have much of a chance, unless he has a pile of money. His case might be good, but if he takes it to court, Disney will stretch out the trial, and try to run him out of money. If the guy is willing to risk being financially ruined, than he has a chance. If he's not willing, than he's not winning.
If Disney did in fact steal this, than that is pretty pathetic. A multi billion dollar company can't create, or hire someone to create, or at least buy the rights to....an original story. Instead they plagarize someone elses and force a lawsuit. Gimme a break.
Disney will completely wipe this poor guy out. They have much better attourneys then this guy will be able to get if he is truly just a writer.
I hope he isn't completely ruined, if his case is true.
This is another bogus suit in a attempt to scam some money.
It would be nice if when this guy loses that he would be forced to pay all the money disney has to spend to defend themselves. Maybe that would stop some of these bogus lawsuits.
From Ben Mills
Posted February 5, 2005 at 12:32 PM
Maybe we'll see a a bad guy in the next Pirates film called Royce Mathew.
Disney steals a lot of stories so I do not doubt if his convictions are in fact just.
For all the talk of Hollywood being an industry of multi-billion dollar companies, it is ultimately an industry run by a relatively small number of people. People making decisions about projects take meetings with writers all the time. Folks do lunch and talk about ideas. Rumors fly. It's like junior high school, with massive expense accounts.
I believe that someone could hear an idea, initially reject it, but let it simmer in the back of their mind for a while. Eventually, the person might grow to accept the idea even as he forgets it came from someone else. Later, when the person suggests the idea to the writer who is working on the project, no one will know that it is in fact stolen until the suit gets filed.
Is this what happened here? I have no friggin' clue. But with the, admittedly limited, contact I've had with folks in this industry, such a scenario would not suprise me. Nothing in Hollywood would surprise me.
I find it strange that the "Black Pearl" is mentioned in both things. However, I find it hard to believe that Disney "Stole" it. Though it was 100% to the ride, a majority of the movie took scenes and ideas from the ride. The ride does have ghostly pirates. I think this guy stole it from Disney. However, we all do not know the details and we probably never will!
That is how Hollywood works.
But the Black Pearl thing is kind of strange. I'm split on this one and would need to hear both sides of the story.
I don't think this guy would ever win because the fact is everything is a rip off from something. Plus Anthony is right that the whole curse thing was taken directly from the ride. Plus if you have the DVD listen to the writer's commentary because they taken things from the ride,Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars and many other things. So Disney is most likely safe even without their great lawers(which they do have!!!).
Easy does it here, guys! I’d be very careful to pass judgement on Mr. Royce or Disney until I had a whole lot more information. This looks to be a complicated case, and I suspect that this is just the initial salvo of a long court battle.
I seriously doubt that Mr. Royce is a flim-flam artist who is just another in a long line of people claiming that Disney stole their “original” ideas for a movie or a ride. His credentials appear to be valid, and if you go to the website and read some of the supporting evidence for his claim, it actually looks as if he has a substantial basis for his lawsuit. If Mr. Royce has the financial resources to carry the battle into the courtroom, he very well may win a not-insignificant sum of money from Disney.
On the other hand, Disney has a right to protect their intellectual property. How much of Mr. Royce’s work was influenced by the theme park ride? How much of his work can be traced to other publicly available sources? Were these same sources used by the screenwriters for the “Curse of the Black Pearl”? Were personnel involved in the development and production of the movie influenced by the same sources as Mr. Royce was when he wrote his novel?
I don’t think anybody gets to wear the white hat in this western.
Should have said Mr. Mathew instead of Mr. Royce in that last post. I seem to do that way too much when someone's got a last name like a first name.
Thats ok, and I think what you bring up is a very good thought. It is hard to know who inspired who. Disney rides are well known thoughout the US. I could see the author getting his ideas from a Disney Ride and why not? I think what happened was this: The author suing went on the Disney Ride and saw the idea for a story he could write that could act as a sort of "backstory" to the ride and he published it. Then, Disney, wanting to make their own movie and backstory, created a story that was very close to that of the author. I really don't know if that is what happens, thats just my opinion, but I think this is all a misunderstanding. However, the author could make his case at the same time.
Why has Royce Matthew waited so long to file suit?
Have you ever sued or been sued by anyone, Jason? It can take years. The courts expect and encourage the parties to resolve their differences by means other than litigation which usually means mediation and negotiation. In a case like this just the preliminary negotiations can be quite lengthy. If the mediation process doesn't result in a satisfactory outcome, then you've got to do the legwork just to put the brief together. The brief for this case had somewhere around 300 pages in it. Ask anybody who's ever written a 300 page report and you'll soon realize that just preparing the brief can be a time consuming process.
So, in essence, don't be misled by the timing of the filing of the lawsuit. In this case, it casts no doubt on the validity of the claim. It's simply a result of the size and complexity of the lawsuit.
Well I'm sorry I've never been sued by anyone. Jeez.
Why did the press decide then to break it out now, rather than when the movie was in theaters? I think that is the question they are wondering about
Not sure ...
But, from what I've heard, Mathew had submitted the story to Disney and they rejected it. Afterward, he had zero interest in seeing the film, but was shown a copy of the DVD upon its released.
Mathew has ample support with his claim concerning 'drawn out court costs.' It's not just the title issue (Black Pearl), it's names, locations, whole scenes, dialog *and* plot. If it were only the theme (pirates and a curse), the suit would have no merrit.
Also, a story I penned for The Haunted Mansion was rejected by Disney. However, look what happened to *that* film--it tanked! My idea was to create a computer rendering of Vincent Price (using all his film footage) as 'host', while mixing elements of The Haunting, House on Haunted Hill and Poltergeist; with a plot resembling Escape From Witch Mountain (two children lost in a world of adults).
Go figure :-/
I know this is Old news to all of you. However, I have just been made aware of the case Royce has with Disney. I went to High School with Royce Mathew, even back then Royce was very creative and had many ideas swimming around in that artistic head of his. It does not surprise me at all that something like this would happen. I hate that it happens to so many creative individuals around the world, but I truly hate that it is happening to Mr. Mathew. I believe that Disney will in fact do whatever it is they have too do to assure that Royce Mathew does in fact drown in paper work and legal headaches to get him to either drop the case or give up. DISNEY, it ain't gonna happen! Royce Mathew will fight this to the end. And I hope that the judicial system will finally stand up and make an example of one the most powerful companies in the World, Disney. Showing them that they and no others can just take other people's ideas and use them thinking the creator of the work will never use it. And think about this is you wish...Isn't it odd how Disney said, They were not interested in his idea, yet their pictures prove that not only were they interested, but they even went as far as to use major scene ideas and props Royce created. That seems like INTERESTED too me. Good Luck Royce. Never Let the so called World where dreams come from, be threatened or molested by the place and people who are supposed to make those so called Dreams come true. Disney, you really need to get a grip and own up to your stupidity and cruel actions. Eventually you will pay for all the wrong you have done not only to Mr. Mathew, but to others in the past as well.
Wasn't Pirates BASED on "The Curse of the Black Pearl"? & since the ride/story was opened like in the '60s doesn't he think that it's fruitless to sue Disney for something that was done decades ago? The story/ride is very VERY VERY much like the first movie in fact so I dunno what he thinks his claim is substantiated with. Stupid! Just another frivilous law suit. Sounds like Disney should be suing him INSTEAD!
WOW
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