WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Maui man filed a $300 million copyright infringement lawsuit, claiming the “Matrix” trilogy of science fiction films has striking similarities to his screenplay. ADVERTISING WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Maui man filed a $300 million
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Maui man filed a $300 million copyright infringement lawsuit, claiming the “Matrix” trilogy of science fiction films has striking similarities to his screenplay.
Playwright Thomas Althouse of Maui claims 166 instances in the movies are similar to parts of his 1992 screenplay, “The Immortals.”
Named in the lawsuit are Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., producer Joel Silver, directors and writers.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California in January 2013.
Althouse claims the concept of the movie trilogy was born four months after the studio received his screenplay.
Because the lawsuit was filed more than 10 years after the first film’s release, the statute of limitations has passed. Althouse’s lawsuit is for claims against the two remaining movies.
Trial is set for June 17. According to court records, it’s expected to last up to eight days.
