The Saga of John Musero vs. Creative Artists Agency: A Six-Year Battle for Script Rights

In 2017, former writer John Musero filed a lawsuit against Creative Artists Agency (CAA), alleging that the agency had poached his script for the TV pilot "Main Justice" from him. The case has been ongoing for six years, with both parties engaging in a series of back-and-forth maneuvers in the courts.

Background

For those who may not be familiar with the details of the case, here's a brief summary:

• In 2015, John Musero sold his script for "Main Justice" to CAA.
• However, Musero claimed that he had agreed to retain some rights to the material and that CAA had breached their agreement by using the script without his permission.
• The lawsuit was filed in 2017, with Musero seeking damages and an injunction to prevent CAA from using the script.

Key Developments

Over the past six years, there have been several key developments in the case:

• Initial Court Filing: In May 2017, Musero filed his lawsuit against CAA in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
• Motion to Dismiss: In July 2018, CAA filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it was barred by the statute of limitations.
• Counterclaims: In September 2019, CAA filed counterclaims against Musero, alleging that he had breached his agreement with the agency and sought damages.
• Settlement Talks: In January 2020, both parties announced that they were engaged in settlement talks.

Recent Developments

In recent months, there have been several developments that suggest the case may be nearing resolution:

• Mediation: In February 2023, it was reported that the two sides had reached a tentative agreement to mediate their dispute.
• Court Filing: On March 10, 2023, CAA filed a court document indicating that they had completed mediation and were seeking dismissal of the lawsuit.

Implications

The implications of this case are significant:

• Script Rights: The outcome of this case will have implications for writers who sell their scripts to agencies and may lead to changes in the way script rights are negotiated.
• CAA's Defense: CAA's defense strategy, which included counterclaims against Musero, highlights the challenges that agencies face when defending themselves against allegations of poaching.

Conclusion

The saga of John Musero vs. Creative Artists Agency is a complex and intriguing one. After six years of litigation, it remains to be seen what the final outcome will be. However, the case has already had significant implications for writers and agencies alike.