Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Minnesota
Use of my name without permission - false attribution of credit
There is no written agreement, but from the beginning the producer agreed to use a pseudonym instead of my real name on the credits for a script I was contributing to. They eventually used enough of my material to make a little over 50% of the script. However, they not only changed the material so much that I do not wish to have anything more to do with it, but the producer now insists on using my real name. If any material is still close enough to my original work, I do not grant him permission to use my name, however, none of it seems to my material anymore, but the producer in question is still determined to use my name in the credits. What I want is to have my name removed from the credits. Use of a pseudonym would be acceptable to me. Also, there are at least two other people in the industry (SAG and WGA) that have the same name as I do. This is an independent production. He also has a copy of my latest book, and wants to use it for the basis of a future film. I want that copy destroyed and any permission I gave verbally to be rescinded. If he agrees to the use of a pseudonym in any and all credits, I would be willing to resume writing for that project. I am hoping that a letter from an attorney would convince him to comply.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Use of my name without permission - false attribution of credit
A Cease & Desist letter might be appropriate. Hopefully a written agreement could be reached to delineate rights and obligations.
How far along in the production is the project?