Douglas Jordan-Benel v. Universal City Studios, Inc.

OPINION

PREGERSON, Circuit Judge:

This case is about the alleged theft of a screenplay idea that was later turned into a popular film series called The Purge. Plaintiff-Appellee Douglas Jordan-Benel brings copyright and state law claims, including breach of implied-in-fact contract and declaratory relief, against several defendants in the film industry. He alleges that the defendants used his screenplay idea to create The Purge films without providing him compensation or credit as a writer.

Several defendants filed an anti-SLAPP motion to strike Jordan-Benel’s state law claims. After dismissing…