Supreme Court to hear appeal in copyright case over movie ‘Raging Bull’

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court will hear an appeal over the copyright to “Raging Bull,” the acclaimed movie about the life of boxer Jake LaMotta.

The high court on Tuesday agreed to hear an appeal from Paula Petrella, the daughter of the movie’s author, Frank Petrella. The elder Petrella died in 1981 with his copyrights reverting to his daughter. She sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. for copyright infringement for creating and distributing copies of the movie, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said she waited too long before filing her lawsuit.

The high court will now review that decision.

Frank Petrella collaborated with his friend LaMotta on two screenplays and a book. They were used to make the movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro.