The estate of “Sherlock Holmes” author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is suing Netflix, Legendary and the author, publisher, writer and director behind the upcoming film “Enola Homes” over copyright and trademark issues.
Millie Bobby Brown stars in the project as the much-younger sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), who proves to be a highly capable detective in her own right. The project is based on “The Enola Holmes Mysteries” book series by Nancy Springer.
In a 19-page complaint filed Wednesday in New Mexico federal court, the estate claims the copyright infringement “arises from defendants unauthorized copying of original creative expression by [Conan Doyle] in copyrighted Sherlock Holmes stories”.
Despite most of the original pre-1923 Sherlock Holmes tales having been judged to be in the public domain, the author’s last ten stories about the character – published between 1923 and 1927 – are not. The Doyle estate claims the books and movie incorporate something those only later stories included: the stoic detective’s moments of emotion and empathy.
Jack Thorne penned and Harry Bradbeer directs the film which also stars Helena Bonham Carter as their mother, Sam Claflin as brother Mycroft, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Burn Gorman and Adeel Akhtar. A jury trial is being sought and seeks unspecified damages and relief from further infringement on copyrights.
Source: Deadline
