Thu, April 01, 2010
VICTORY!!! Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita Vindicated in Court
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2010 (New York, NY) — Lucas Entertainment is thrilled to announce that it has won the court battle started by the purported owner of Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita. In February 2007, International Media Films (IMF) filed a lawsuit against Lucas Entertainment, Inc., alleging that Lucas Entertainment’s pornographic film Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita violated IMF’s claimed copyright in Fellini’s movie and associated trademarks. IMF and its purported President, Alfredo Leone, demanded unspecified damages and statutory damages. IMF subsequently sought an injunction against distribution of Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita, but the Court ruled against IMF, allowing Lucas Entertainment to continue distribution and sales of its film.
After a three-year court battle, the Judge yesterday dismissed IMF’s entire lawsuit. In a long and carefully reasoned order, Judge Koeltl of the United States District Court in Manhattan concluded that the “plaintiff has failed to show that it has sufficient admissible evidence from which a reasonable fact finder could conclude that it was the copyright owner of the Fellini film”. The court ruled that IMF lacks credible documentation of its chain of title, stating: “In fact, it is possible for the Fellini film to be in the public domain.” The court dismissed IMF’s case without needing to address Lucas Entertainment’s other arguments.
“I’m proud that my company won a case of such magnitude,” said Lucas Entertainment President/CEO Michael Lucas. “We believed strongly that we hadn’t done anything wrong even before we learned, through the meticulous, extensive and expensive fieldwork of our lawyers, that IMF doesn’t even own the movie it went to court over. Of course I can only guess at my opponents’ motivations, but if they thought that they could get a quick payday by walking all over a porn company, they were sorely mistaken. I am very proud that my company had the professionalism, the quality legal advice and the financial resources to stand up to this bullying.”
Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita is available on DVD in a 3-disc Director’s Cut edition, or individually as Part 1 and Part 2. It contains eight scenes and is available for streaming on LucasEntertainment.com. For wholesale orders, please email justyn@lucasentertainment.com or call (212) 924-5892 x15.
ABOUT LUCAS ENTERTAINMENT Michael Lucas created Lucas Entertainment in 1998. The studio has grown into one of the largest studios producing all-male erotica. Headquartered in New York City, the Lucas Entertainment brand is famous for its mixture of high culture, stunning men, and provocative sex scenes, and has garnered numerous industry accolades and an unprecedented amount of mainstream press. Lucas Entertainment titles feature a variety of international locations, highlighting the sexual vibe and energy of a number of urban centers, including New York City, Tel Aviv, Prague, Budapest, and Paris. Its lines include Lucas Entertainment, Auditions, and Lucas Raunch. The company releases two brand-new titles every month, giving it one of the highest annual outputs of the industry. Its website, LucasEntertainment.com, has an extremely aggressive online presence, providing its members with two new scenes each week. Lucas Entertainment titles are distributed worldwide via DVD, VOD, PPV, Cable, print, and the Internet, and is also the exclusive distributor for Jalif Studio in the United States and Canada.
ABOUT MICHAEL LUCAS Michael Lucas is the most mainstreamed, provocative, and controversial figure in gay adult entertainment. With his unparalleled character, activism, and distinction, Michael Lucas is at the forefront of his industry and beyond. In a rarity in the adult world, Lucas has transcended his notoriety into mainstream pop culture, fashion and politics. With a gamut of celebrity friends and colleagues, Michael Lucas’ fame has progressed into all facets of media. Lucas has been featured in thousands of articles, interviews, and appearances. Michael Lucas is a new breed of celebrity: a porn star evolved. More information can be found at MichaelLucas.com and LucasBlog.com.
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READ JUDGE KOELTL’S DECISION HERE
Awesome, time for a sequel! Or at least another sexy re-imagining done the Michael Lucas way!
Congrats on your victory Michael. I know it had to be terribly expensive….but you had the conviction to follow it through and do it right. I am sure its a relief to know that is not hanging over you anymore. Now, go back to making some money and paying the bills.