9th Circuit’s ‘Top Gun’ Copyright Ruling Crashes and Burns, Costing Heirs Millions
in Civil Litigation by Timothy ReubenWhen courts are asked to decide what is and is not protectable expression, the result can have real consequences for creators and rights holders.
In a recent Daily Journal article, Timothy D. Reuben examines the Ninth Circuit’s “Top Gun” copyright decision and explains why the ruling raises serious concerns about how judges are asked to evaluate art, originality, and derivative works. The decision, he argues, reflects structural flaws in copyright analysis that deserve closer scrutiny.
The piece is a reminder that high-stakes disputes are often shaped by how decision-makers frame complex issues, not just by the underlying facts.
Read the full Daily Journal article.