‘Friday the 13th’ Writer Can Reclaim Rights, 2nd Cir. Says (1)

The screenplay writer of the 1980 horror movie “Friday the 13th” can invoke a copyright law that lets creators claw back rights they signed away decades ago, the Second Circuit said.

Victor Miller wrote the screenplay as a contractor rather than an employee of Manny Inc., making him eligible to exercise his termination rights, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit said, affirming a lower court decision.

Horror Inc., which later acquired the rights, argued Miller had been an employee. But the court said Miller had substantial creative control, didn’t receive employee benefits, only worked for two ...