LOS ANGELES (CN) - Heirs of science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick claim the writers, producers and distributors of the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" cheated them of millions of dollars in royalties.
The movie, released this year and based on Dick's story, "Adjustment Team," grossed $128 million at the box office and cost just $62 million to make, and has brought in another $10 million from DVD sales, according to the complaint.
Laura Archer Dick Coelho sued in Federal Court as trustee of the Philip K. Dick Testamentary Trust.
Named as defendants are Media Rights Capital, its subsidiary Oak Tree Entertainment, screenwriter and director George Nolfi and producer Michael Hackett.
"This is a case about defendants who wrongfully want something for nothing," the complaint states.
Since Dick died in 1982, 10 of his stories have been made into feature films, including "The Adjustment Bureau," "Blade Runner," and "Minority Report." Dick's short story, "Adjustment Team" was published in Orbit Science Fiction magazine in 1954.
"Defendants exploited the work of plaintiff Philip K. Dick Testamentary Trust (the 'Trust') by making a film called 'The Adjustment Bureau' that centered on shadowy figures who 'adjust' lives and events when things don't go according to plan," the complaint states. "Now, motivated solely by greed, defendants seek to establish themselves as a de facto 'Adjustment Bureau' of Hollywood. Using heavy handed means, they seek to 'adjust' agreements entered into long-ago agreed, 'adjust' determinations made long ago by the U.S. Copyright Office, and even 'adjust' history so as to hoard any and all monies rightfully earned by the estate of the man whose genius inspired what is indisputably a highly successful film.
"Philip K. Dick was the visionary author of science fiction novels and stories that have provided the basis for nearly a dozen feature films, including the classic 'Blade Runner' and mega-hits like 'Total Recall' and 'Minority Report.' Dick died in 1982, leaving a library of than 200 written works that Hollywood continues to mine for box office gold. The author's unique creative legacy is safeguarded by the Trust, which is overseen by Dick's children.
"In 2001 defendant Nolfi was a writer without a major screen credit to his name; defendant Michael Hackett had yet to produce his first feature film; and Media Rights Capital and its subsidiaries and affiliates did not even exist. That was the state of arrirs when Hackett handed Nolfi the Philip K. Dick story 'Adjustment Team' and suggested it would make a good movie."
Dock Coehlo claims that Nolfi negotiated a bargain-rate contract with the Trust that granted him an option to buy exclusive movie rights to "Adjustment Team." In exchange, Nolfi gave his approval for the "Adjustment Team" chain of title and agreed to make substantial payments to the Trust if a movie was made, the complaint states.
Nolfi paid the estate $75,000 to option the movie rights, agreed to a purchase price of $1 million to $1.8 million based on the film's budget, and an additional $100,000 if it reached "break-even" status, according to the complaint.
"Years passed. The Trust could have let the option expire. Instead, it granted Nofi one extension after another. In return, he agreed to improve the Trust's compensation. If a motion picture ultimately resulted, the Trust would be rewarded for its perseverance," the complaint states.