‘Top Gun: Maverick’ lawsuit grounded again as judge backs Paramount, Clears path for counterclaims

The legal turbulence around ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ has hit calm air once again. A U.S. federal judge has dismissed another lawsuit targeting the blockbuster, reinforcing Paramount’s position and keeping the studio firmly in control of its prized franchise. The ruling marks the second time in a week that claims against the Tom Cruise-led hit have failed, strengthening the studio’s momentum as it looks ahead to future installments.According to Deadline, U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff rejected Shaun Gray’s remaining copyright infringement claim, siding with Paramount in a decisive summary judgment. In his order, the judge made it clear that Gray’s case could not move forward. “Paramount moves for summary judgment on Gray’s remaining claim of copyright infringement, arguing that Gray’s infringement claim must be dismissed for various reasons, one of which is that Gray’s own copyright is invalid,” Rakoff wrote. He added, “Because the Court agrees with that argument, it need not address Paramount’s other arguments.” The decision effectively shuts down Gray’s core allegation against the 2022 box office juggernaut.Gray, who is the cousin and occasional assistant of credited co-writer Eric Warren Singer, claimed he worked closely on the Maverick script alongside Singer and director Joseph Kosinski. He argued that his contributions shaped major action moments. His lawsuit stated that he “wrote key scenes for the screenplay that became the Film’s central edge-of-your-seat dramatic action sequences that made it a smash hit.” However, Paramount countered that it had no knowledge of Gray’s involvement. The court agreed, noting that Gray never disclosed his alleged work to the studio at the time.Judge Rakoff emphasized that ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is deeply rooted in ‘Paramount’s’ existing intellectual property. “As previously noted, the original film, Top Gun, was fully copyrighted by Paramount, and it is self-evident that the Gray Scenes are materially based on the Top Gun universe, including characters, settings, and plot devices, as one would expect of such a sequel” he wrote. The judge also allowed Paramount’s counterclaims to proceed. “As for Paramount’s fraud counterclaim, Paramount alleges that Gray devalued Paramount’s intellectual property by intentionally concealing from Paramount that he was writing scenes.”The ruling preserves Paramount’s counterclaims for trial. “For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants Paramount’s motion for summary judgment and denies Gray’s motion for summary judgment,” Rakoff concluded. Paramount welcomed the outcome, stating, “We are pleased with the Court’s decision to dismiss Gray’s claims and allow Paramount’s counterclaims to move forward.” With recent appellate setbacks also affecting related Top Gun lawsuits, the franchise now appears legally cleared for its next takeoff.