Woody Allen v. William Faulkner: Fair Use?

April 19, 2013

  • April 19, 2013 at 11:06 am
    ExciteBiker says:
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    1956. There are myriad lawyers fighting and wasting public resources over something a man wrote in 1956. A man who has been DEAD for over FIFTY YEARS. The kicker, for me, is that the use of his remark–a celebration and homage, and a way to remember its importance all these years later–is a practice of freedom. I think the Faulkner estate does the man a great disservice with pursuit of such folly.

    “We must be free not because we claim freedom, but ***because we practice it***”

  • April 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm
    earlybird says:
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    I can picture two teams of lawyers wringing their hands and trying to figure out how to keep this case moving along at the normal hourly rate. Since its an intellectual property case, the rate is probably $450 or higher an hour per attorney!

  • April 19, 2013 at 1:50 pm
    usa24 says:
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    Heirs – get over yourselves. There’s more going on in the world than your groveling over a quote.

  • April 19, 2013 at 2:04 pm
    reality bites says:
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    I really like the movie. Part fantasy (big part), part historical, totally Allen.

    Let’s see. The movie is set in the ’20’s. Faulkner’s publishing of the abridged comment was published in the 50’s.

    Maybe Woody was right – perhaps “Faulkner” said it to “Hemingway” decades before the comment was re-written and printed.

    Artistic creative license / freedom of speech / whatever. The plaintiffs have to prove Faulkner didn’t “say” it in conversation with Papa.

  • April 19, 2013 at 3:48 pm
    Scott says:
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    Ironically, Wilson gives Faulkner credit for the line – incorrect or not. If Wilson and/or his character took credit for the line, that’s one thing. But this is actually paying homage to Faulkner.

    Now if this was being done in the U.K., Faulkner’s estate would have to pay ALL costs once this ridiculous case is shut down. If that could only happen in America………….

  • April 19, 2013 at 5:06 pm
    oldbroker says:
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    And we care because??????????????????????

    • May 10, 2013 at 6:30 pm
      MnProf says:
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      . . . because stupid, frivolous lawsuits like this infringe on artistic freedom in the name of a naked grab for cash. (At least Faulkner didn’t have to worry about being sued by the Shakespeare estate for using “The Sound and the Fury” as a tile.)

  • April 23, 2013 at 4:22 pm
    Don't Call Me Shirley says:
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    The past is gone. Oh no! I just quoted Aerosmith from “Dream On”!

    The past is…uh…you can get a good look at your butcher…no, wait…it’s gotta be your bull…



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