Paramount Wins 'Top Gun: Maverick' Copyright Lawsuit

A U.S. appeals court cleared Paramount Pictures in a copyright lawsuit over Top Gun: Maverick, ruling the blockbuster sequel is not "substantially similar" to the 1983 article that inspired the original, as reported by Reuters. The decision removes a major obstacle for the future of the high-flying franchise.

• Expired rights: The suit came from the family of journalist Ehud Yonay, who reclaimed the copyright to his "Top Guns" article in 2020 and contended the sequel was made without their permission.

• Facts over fiction: The Ninth Circuit court found that while both works are set in the same real-world Navy program, Maverick doesn't lift the article's original, creative expression. The ruling also tossed out a breach of contract claim, finding Paramount had no obligation to credit Yonay in the sequel.

With the legal challenge now in its rearview mirror, Paramount is reportedly spinning up development on Top Gun 3.