Hardy v. Hal Roach Studios Inc.

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Paul E. Gierucki
Godfather
Posts: 251
Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 4:23 pm

Hardy v. Hal Roach Studios Inc.

Postby Paul E. Gierucki » Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:45 pm

Attached is the June 26, 1975 ruling in the case of Lucille Hardy PRICE et al., Plaintiffs, v. HAL ROACH STUDIOS INC., et al., Defendants.

Oliver Hardy's widow, Lucille Hardy Price, along with Stan Laurel's widow, Ida K. Laurel, succesfully sued the Hal Roach Studios in a dispute over the ownership of the commercial rights to the names and likenesses of Laurel and Hardy. The suit was initially filed against Hal Roach Studios, at that point a mere shadow of its former self, by the Larry Harmon pictures Corporation to whom Stan laurel had entrusted said rights in 1961. (Harmon secured the rights to Oliver Hardy's name and likeness, posthumously, from Hardy's widow Lucille.) Harmon later moved for an order granting leave to file an amended and supplemental complaint and for an order granting Lucille and Ida leave to intervene as parties plantiff in the action. From that point, the battle was on.

While the document is loaded with legalese, the opinion (starting on page 3) is a fascinating read.

-- Paul E. Gierucki

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Joan Myers
Associate
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:34 pm

Re: Hardy v. Hal Roach Studios Inc.

Postby Joan Myers » Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:09 am

Oh dear, I read this header and immediately thought "Thomas Hardy sued Hal Roach?" What a weird mental image.

Joan

Brent Walker
Capo
Posts: 151
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:06 am

Re: Hardy v. Hal Roach Studios Inc.

Postby Brent Walker » Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:17 pm

I'm surprised you didn't wonder why Thomas Hardy was suing the king of Irish comedians.


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