The Conjuring may just haunt Warner Brothers more than it haunted the audiences
A lawsuit has claimed breach of exclusive rights to Warren case file but Warner Bros. has stated no one has a monopoly to tell stories about true-life figures. Photo: Screengrab
(Web Desk) - A lawsuit has come to haunt ‘The Conjuring’ and ‘Annabelle’ series.
As reported by Business Insider, Warner Bros. has lost their bid to dismiss a legal suit filed against them with regards to The Conjuring franchise and has been pounded with a 900 million USD dollar lawsuit.
The Conjuring and ‘Annabelle’ Franchise which explores the work of Ed and Lorraine Warren, real-life paranormal investigators and the protagonists of both the series, have been sued by Gerald Brittle, who published a book about the Warrens in 1980 titled ‘The Demonologist’.
The 355-paged amended complaint is filed against Warner Bros., New Line Productions and director James Wan, among others in Virginia federal court.
Brittle claimed that he had an agreement with the Warrens that would prohibit any derivate work on the subject of ‘The Demonologist’, specifically their lives and experiences as paranormal investigators without his assent and also claimed exclusive rights to use Warren case files.
He further claimed that despite being aware of the deal, Warner Bros. engaged into deals with the Warrens beginning in the 1990s to produce films based on his life and the book.
Arguing on these statements, Brittle has sued Warner Bros. for copyright infringement, common law trespass to chattels, statutory business conspiracy, conversion and tortuous interference with contract.
Warner Bros. has replied to the lawsuit by stating that no one has a monopoly to tell stories about true-life figures and events, and raised other issues like statute of limitations.
James Wan, producer of the franchise has said: “The Conjuring and Annabelle series are based on historical fact leaving no room for a copyrights lawsuit”.
This is where Brittle and his legal team have a chance to beat the production giant as Brittle says there’s nothing factual about the Warrens’ case files because ghosts aren’t real, and neither are dolls who murder people.
Ed and Lorraine Warren. Photo: Warrens.net
According to Business Insider, Brittle claims that the Warrens have perpetuated a hoax for years.
Brittle’s lawyer has said: “To the extent the Defendants’ movies are not based on historical facts, they cannot claim they are protected by the fair use doctrine exemption to copyright”.
The judge’s official statement read, "The Court declines the parties invitation to wade into the truth or falsity of the Warrens paranormal escapades or to parse the resulting similarities between the works at this stage of the case. This type of analysis, which bears on the evidence presented and factual determinations, is better suited for summary judgment or trial."
Gibney has for now allowed the non-copyright state-based claims with word that more factual development is needed.
The entertainment company so far has declined to comment over the situation. But owing to Gerald Brittle’s lawsuit, Warner Bros. in order to prove that the Warrens’ findings are indeed “historical facts” will have to make the biggest paranormal breakthrough in history. This means proving that a witch killed herself outside a farmhouse and that a doll named Annabelle is actually an evil spirit.
