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Sonya Jason, v. Fonda

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Dec 1, 1982
698 F.2d 966 (9th Cir. 1982)

Summary

holding book sales of approximately 2,000 copies did not create more than a bare possibility of access

Summary of this case from Buchanan v. Sony Music Entm't

Opinion

No. 81-5973.

Argued and Submitted October 6, 1982.

Decided December 1, 1982.

Sonya Jason, in pro. per.

Ronald S. Rosen, Los Angeles, Cal., for defendants-appellees.

On Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Before ANDERSON, PREGERSON, and NELSON, Circuit Judges.


Sonya Jason brought an action against Jane Fonda and eight other defendants for copyright infringement, unfair competition, misappropriation, and breach of implied contract. Mrs. Jason's primary allegation was that the defendants' motion picture, Coming Home, infringed on the copyright in her novel, Concomitant SoldierWoman and War. The district court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment and dismissed the other claims. We affirm.

Our review of the facts and issues leads us to concur in the well-reasoned decision of Judge Kelleher filed September 21, 1981. 526 F. Supp. 774 (C.D.Cal. 1982). We therefore incorporate his memorandum of decision by reference. Judge Kelleher aptly points out:

(1) Mrs. Jason presented evidence showing no more than a "bare possibility" the defendants had access to her work. Such a showing is insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact. See British Airways Board v. Boeing Company, 585 F.2d 946, 952 (9th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 981 [99 S.Ct. 1790, 60 L.Ed.2d 241] (1979);

(2) Even assuming access, there was no substantial similarity between the two works under the standards announced by this court in Sid Marty Krofft Television Productions, Inc. v. McDonald's Corp., 562 F.2d 1157 (9th Cir. 1977); and

(3) It is proper to dismiss pendent state claims when the federal claim is dismissed prior to trial. Wham-O Mfg. Co. v. Paradise Manufacturing Co., 327 F.2d 748, 753 (9th Cir. 1964); see also, Wren v. Sletten Construction Co., 654 F.2d 529, 536 (9th Cir. 1981).

Additionally, Judge Kelleher did not abuse his discretion in handling discovery nor in denying Mrs. Jason's motion for reconsideration.

The appellees' request for sanctions and attorney's fees is denied. Single costs are allowed.

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Sonya Jason, v. Fonda

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Dec 1, 1982
698 F.2d 966 (9th Cir. 1982)

holding book sales of approximately 2,000 copies did not create more than a bare possibility of access

Summary of this case from Buchanan v. Sony Music Entm't

observing that no copyright protection may be afforded to ideas "deal[ing] generally with subjects such as morality and the effects of war on women, injured veterans and soldiers"

Summary of this case from Olson v. National Broadcasting Co., Inc.

Incorporating findings in Jason v. Fonda, 526 F. Supp. 774, 776

Summary of this case from Chirco v. Rosewood Village, Llc.

In Jason, for example, the Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the defendant based on a finding that despite being concerned with the same general theme, there were substantial differences in the treatment by plaintiff's book and defendants' movie of the basic idea. 526 F. Supp. at 777.

Summary of this case from Overman v. Universal City Studios, Inc.
Case details for

Sonya Jason, v. Fonda

Case Details

Full title:SONYA JASON, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. JANE FONDA, ET AL.…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Dec 1, 1982

Citations

698 F.2d 966 (9th Cir. 1982)

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