Sunset Securities Co. v. Coward McCann, Inc.

The plaintiff appeals from a summary judgment entered on a cross-complaint which determined in the defendant’s favor its title to motion picture and other rights in the novel “Prelude to Night,” subject to certain existing rights reserved to the plaintiff by a written agreement.

In 1944, all rights to the novel “Prelude to Night” were conveyed to the defendant by its author, Dayton Stoddart. In 1945, the defendant copyrighted the novel. In 1946, the defendant entered into a written agreement with American International Picture Corporation under which American International was licensed to…