Roger Dean sues James Cameron

[verslibre]

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP1b4c556b65394c91a25e149ef53767c2.html

British album cover artist sues in NY over Avatar

NEW YORK — A British artist who created fantasy landscape album covers for bands including "Yes" and "Asia" has sued director James Cameron for more than $150 million.

Roger Dean filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court in Manhattan. He claimed his artwork was copied in the making of the 2009 film Avatar. Dean alleged that some Avatar production workers had studied and referenced Dean's art as they worked on the movie. The lawsuit claimed the film copied "floating mountains," ''stone arches" and the antennae and markings on flying creatures.

The lawsuit said Dean wants some of more than $2 billion the film has earned.

Cameron lawyer Bert Fields called Cameron the "most original and creative person in the motion picture business today" and said he doesn't need to copy from anyone.

—Copyright 2013 Associated Press

[conversationpc]

Hmmm...I do remember thinking when I initially saw the movie that the floating mountains and some of the other effects really did look like a Yes album cover.

[verslibre]

Cam-maroon totally borrowed Dean's concepts. I hope Rog gets some coin dollars out of this.

[Frontiers65]

Hmmm...I do remember thinking when I initially saw the movie that the floating mountains and some of the other effects really did look like a Yes album cover.

I thought the same thing.

[brandonx76]

nice try...remember when Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker Jr for "Ghostbusters" ripping off "I wanna a new drug"?

[Don]

nice try...remember when Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker Jr for "Ghostbusters" ripping off "I wanna a new drug"?

I remember Huey got sued back for breaking the confidentiality agreement on a BTM segment , basically losing everything he was awarded in the initial settlement.

Another one was Last Christmas. Due to perceived similarities with "Can't Smile Without You", an out-of-court settlement was reached between George Michael and Barry Manilow in which the first year's royalties were donated to charity.

Michael eventually came out ahead on that one as the song continues to chart every Christmas in Countries throughout the world and still brings in mega bucks.