US Supreme Court hears arguments over ‘Raging Bull’ copyright

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court is trying to figure out whether the daughter of the man whose work was the basis of the Oscar-winning movie “Raging Bull” should go another round with a major movie studio over copyright infringement.

The justices on Tuesday heard arguments from Paula Petrella, the daughter of the man, Frank Petrella, whose written work about Jake LaMotta inspired the movie. The elder Petrella died in 1981, with copyrights reverting to his daughter. She sued Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for copyright infringement for creating and distributing copies of the movie, but a federal appeals court said she waited too long.

Now she wants justices to resurrect her lawsuit. They will make a decision later this year.

Boxer LaMotta’s story was made into a movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert DeNiro.