Art Buchwald's victory over Paramount Pictures about rights to "Coming to America" was hailed as a triumph for writers, but the studio feared the court decision could mean a rash of bogus lawsuits.
"I am very happy," Buchwald said in a telephone interview after a judge ruled Monday that Paramount must pay him for the script idea he claimed was the basis for the hit Eddie Murphy movie "Coming to America.""This thing is not only an important thing for me," Buchwald said. "I think it's really important for writers."
Superior Court Judge Harvey A. Schneider ruled that "Coming to America" was "based upon a material element of, or was inspired by" a synopsis Buchwald wrote entitled "King for a Day."
"The evidence is overwhelming that for two years Paramount considered `King for a Day' to be a project that was being developed for Eddie Murphy," the judge ruled. Monetary damages in the $5 million lawsuit were not decided, but the judge disallowed any punitive award.
Paramount promised an appeal, while writers predicted their battles would be a bit easier against Hollywood studios.
"I am delighted that the little man kicked the big guy," said Billy Wilder, a Buchwald ally and the director and co-writer of Paramount's 1950 classic "Sunset Boulevard."
"It's a very important decision for all writers," said David Rintels, an award-winning screenwriter who served as an expert witness on Buchwald's behalf. "It upholds the sanctity of contracts and it affirms that a writer's original ideas have value."
Buchwald's attorney, Pierce O'Donnell, said that his client and Buchwald's writing partner, producer Alain Bernheim, stood to receive between $5 million and $10 million.
The judge's decision allows an inspection of Paramount's financial records on the movie, O'Donnell said. Paramount claims the film, which has gross profits of more than $300 million, has no net profits.
"If you believe that," Buchwald quipped, "then there's a wonderful S&L I'd like to sell you."