Arbitration Award for Queen of Versailles

Jacqueline Siegel, Orlando's Queen of Versailles, is free to pursue dreams of reality television after an arbitrator recently ruled against a filmmaker who claimed the Siegels signed away rights to their life story. The independent documentary film entitled "The Queen of Versailles" was a hit of the film festival circuit, including a Directing Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. However, Siegel's victory comes with a bill for $750,000 in legal fees incurred by the filmmaker and her husband, in connection with a separate lawsuit. David Siegel's time-share company, Westgate Resorts, sued the couple for defamation and lost. An arbitrator in that case said he did not find any of the content in the movie to be false. The film was hailed as one of the best documentaries of the Great Recession and detailed the Siegels' quest to build the biggest home in America. Court documents claimed the couples' life-story rights were valued at $50 million. Reportedly, the victory might lead to a reality television show. David Siegel claims the couple is in negotiations with several networks. The filmmaker had argued the couple signed away rights to their life story as part of the filming release. The arbitrator apparently ruled differently, saying the life story releases were invalid and unenforceable. Attorneys for the filmmakers maintain their victory in the defamation suit was a triumph for First Amendment rights. See full story here-- http://bit.ly/PMdcbc

Spider-Man musical settles, avoiding the sticky web of trial

Producers of the musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” and its former director, Julie Taymor, settled a lawsuit over copyright claims, artistic credit and profits for the most expensive show ever on Broadway. Taymor originally filed suit on copyright grounds after being fired, claiming producers made money from her ideas and script and owed her more than $1 million. The producers countersued, saying they fired her for breach of contract. U2's Bono and the Edge, and Marvel Entertainment (licensor for the Spider-Man brand), were also involved. Taymor had approval of future tours and versions of scripts that ended with the deal, freeing future transformation of the show for venues like Las Vegas. Despite confidentiality, reported sources with knowledge of the settlement said the terms included reductions in royalties due to the high operating cost, with financial concessions improving the show’s prospects for a continuing run and to recoup the $75M production. Spider-Man has become one of the top-grossing musicals on Broadway, as well as a fan favorite-- despite negative reviews. Trial was set to begin next month in Manhattan federal court. A highly publicized trial would serve no one’s interests, according to several associates of Taymor and the producers. Tours and new productions are planned and trial apparently threatened to complicate those efforts. The fate of a documentary about the creation of the musical remains unclear. See news item here- http://nyti.ms/111rQvG