Roley

This appeal arises from Sutton Roley’s (“Roley”) action against Walter Coblenz (“Coblenz”) and New World Entertainment Limited (“New World”) for copyright infringement. Roley appeals the grant of two summary judgments against him and in favor of Coblenz and New World. Roley challenges the district court’s conclusion that his infringement claims are barred by the copyright statute of limitations at 17 U.S.C. § 507 (b).

BACKGROUND

.Some time before 1972, Roley wrote a screenplay originally entitled “A Little Visit Home.” He renamed the screenplay “Sleep Tight Little Sister.”

In 1985, Roley gave Coblenz, a friend and successful film producer, the original copy of his work, hoping that Coblenz would produce the screenplay. Coblenz declined the proposed project.

Two years later, in August 1987, Coblenz invited Roley to the screening of his new movie “Sister, Sister.” New World was a financier of the film. After viewing the screening, Roley claimed that the movie was a production of his screenplay “Sleep Tight Little Sister.” Coblenz admitted that the film and screenplay were similar, but advised Roley that the film was based upon a screenplay entitled “Louisiana Swamp Murders”…