Faulkner Estate Sues Over Use Of Quote In Woody Allen Film

The William Faulkner estate is suing over the use of the famous quotation “The past is never dead. It’s not even past” in Woody Allen’s film Midnight in Paris. As spoken by Owen Wilson’s character, it comes out as “The past is not dead. Actually, it’s not even past.” Nevertheless, estate executor Lee Caplin says the dispute isn’t dead, and isn’t past, over whether people can quote even just two lines from Faulkner’s “Requiem For a Nun,” or anything else. Here’s a link to a rundown of the issues, as well as some commentary from legal experts, from CNN.

In a second lawsuit, the estate also sued the Washington Post and Northrup Grumman over the use of Faulkner material that appeared in an ad. More here in the Hollywood Reporter.