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Originally Posted by Dulin's Books
the screen plays would have been work for higher.
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"Hire"
"Work for hire" is a fairly specific arrangement, which involves the content creator being an employee, or having a contract which specifies that their content is done specifically for an employer; e.g. writing PR copy for a movie.
Screenplays usually aren't work for hire. The studio may employ or contract a script doctor, who makes minor modifications to the script, and afaik that's typically work for hire.
However, when Coppola and Puzo wrote the Godfather sequel screenplays, that's a standard copyright arrangement.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Dulin's Books
I dont know that it makes a difference as far as the issue with the Estate is concerned.
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It might, it might not. It's not relevant, because what matters is the contract Puzo signed after the first book and before the first movie.
The point is that this is not some social injustice of the big company and the meek little writer. It's that Puzo voluntarily signed a contract, and it's up to the court to determine the full implications of the wording of the contract.