In a recent ruling, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson has granted summary judgment in favor of Paramount Pictures in a long-running copyright infringement case surrounding the iconic "Top Gun" franchise. The legal battle, which began nearly two years ago, involved the family of Ehud Yonay, the writer of the 1983 article that inspired the film series.

The judge's order, released on April 5, dismissed the claims of breach of contract and copyright infringement brought by Shosh Yonay and Yuval Yonay, the widow and son of Ehud Yonay. Judge Anderson concluded that the article and the sequel were not substantially similar under the extrinsic test, stating that the alleged similarities were either not similarities at all or based on unprotected elements of the works.

The initial lawsuit, filed in June 2022 and later amended, argued that the 2022 box office hit, which grossed $1.5 billion, violated termination rights. The Yonay family claimed that the rights to the franchise had reverted to them in January 2020 under copyright statutes, and that Paramount, Tom Cruise, and the producers had no right to create the long-awaited sequel.

Paramount expressed satisfaction with the court's ruling, stating, "We are pleased that the court recognized that plaintiffs' claims were completely without merit." However, the Yonays' lawyers voiced their disagreement, stating that they would exercise their right to appeal the decision to the 9th Circuit.

The case has had its fair share of twists and turns, mirroring the suspense of an F-14 fighter jet in combat. Ehud Yonay's original article, titled "Top Guns," was published in a now-defunct California magazine in May 1983. Paramount secured the copyright to the article, leading to Ehud Yonay being credited in the 1986 film adaptation of "Top Gun." However, the Yonay family argued that they had reclaimed the rights to the story through termination rights under the Copyright Act.

Notably, Judge Anderson rejected the Yonays' contention that Paramount was required to credit Ehud Yonay for the sequel. The judge emphasized that the sequel was produced independently and did not infringe on the article's copyright.

While this ruling is undoubtedly a victory for Paramount and key individuals involved in the "Top Gun" franchise, the legal battle may not be completely over yet. The Yonays' attorneys have signaled their intention to appeal the decision, and the case could potentially move to the 9th Circuit.

For Paramount, the court's decision provides a measure of relief, especially considering the studio's ongoing negotiations with Skydance Media and National Amusements for a potential merger. The outcome of these discussions will shape the future of the studio and its valuable intellectual property.

As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, the "Top Gun" franchise remains grounded, awaiting a resolution to this copyright dispute.