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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Screenwriting

Royce Mathew's HUGE Credibility Problem

Royce Mathew doesn't have a chance in hell of winning anything. (Unless he can get a change of venue to an alternate universe.)

According to the online search at the Library of Congress, Royce Mathew has registered 19 items. (See below.) 13 items are related to the "Pirates of the Caribbean", or "SNPM" ("Super Natural Pirate Movie"). The other 6 items are unrelated.
In Royce Mathew's complaint this claim is made: (Page 10 Point 42) "From 1991 through early 1995, Plaintiff personally and though others provided copies of his materials, including SNPM 2nd Level Structural Blueprint, SNPM Original Drawing Collection and SNPM Draft #1 to Defendants. These materials were provided to a variety of employees and agents of Defendants, on multiple occasions, over a period of years."
Here's the HUGE credibility problem. Royce Mathew registered the 6 unrelated items with the Library of Congress within the time frame of March 5, 1990 until February 18, 1993. This establishes the fact that Royce Mathew understood the concept of registering a copyright during the same period he claims he was shopping his SNPM project.

So why didn't he register any part of the POC/SNPM materials (total 13 items) until December 2, 2003, December 12, 2003, July 21, 2005 and July 29, 2005 (10 items)? These tardy registrations occurred at least nine years after they were allegedly created for 2 items and more than a decade later for the remaining 11 items.
None of these of Royce Mathew's registrations (relating to the POC/SNPM items) occurred until after the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl".
And that just doesn't pass the smell test.

1. Registration Number: PA-1-204-748Title: POC : screenplay & story /
written by Royce Mathew.
Description: 1 v.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1994
Published: 2May94
Registered: 12Dec03
Title on © Application:
Pirates of the Caribbean.
Special Codes: 3/D

2. Registration Number: PA-1-223-046Title: POC.
Description: CD-ROM.
Note: Motion picture written, produced,
edited, directed by Royce Mathew.
Descriptive material (1 p.) also deposited.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1994
Published: 15Nov94
Registered: 2Dec03
Special Codes: 4/X

3. Registration Number: PAu-1-339-476Title: Dream a little evil.
Description: motion picture.
Note: Cataloged from appl.
Claimant: Royce Mathew
Created: 1989
Registered: 5Mar90
Author on © Application:
screenplay: Royce Mathew.
Special Codes: 3/D

4. Registration Number: PAu-1-399-066Title: Strange change :
original story concept,
outline & screenplay / by
Royce Mathew.
Note: Treatment.
Claimant: Royce Mathew
Created: 1988
Registered: 12Jun90
Special Codes: 3/D

5. Registration Number: PAu-1-584-542Title: Who is Jessica Starfish?
Note: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1991
Registered: 9Dec91
Special Codes: 3/D

6. Registration Number: PAu-1-638-230Title: Inside mother : screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1992
Registered: 9Jun92
Special Codes: 3/D

7. Registration Number: PAu-1-709-322Title: Living doll.
Note: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 1Feb93
Special Codes: 3/D

8. Registration Number: PAu-1-714-477Title: Touchstone.
Edition: 1st draft.
Note: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 18Feb93
Special Codes: 3/D

9. Registration Number: PAu-2-963-147Title: SNPM : draft no. 1.
Description: 1 v.
Note: Script.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 21Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

10. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-310Title: SNPM story structure blueprint.
Description: Treatment for motion picture.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1991
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

11. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-311Title: SNPM outline.
Description: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1991
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

12. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-312Title: SNPM overlay.
Description: Treatment for motion picture.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1994
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

13. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-313Title: SNPM storyboard collection.
Description: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

14. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-314Title: SNPM 2nd level structural blueprint.
Description: Treatment for motion picture.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

15. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-315Title: SNPM retooling draft.
Description: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

16. Registration Number: PAu-2-966-316Title: SNPM draft : no. 2.
Description: Screenplay.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 3/D

17. Registration Number: VAu-664-114Title: SNPM black pearl art.
Description: Drawing.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1993
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 5/S

18. Registration Number: VAu-664-115Title: SNPM black pearl photograph.
Description: Photoprint.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1991
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 5/S

19. Registration Number: VAu-664-116Title: SNPM original drawing collection.
Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962-
Created: 1980
Registered: 29Jul05
Special Codes: 5/S
  

Top answer

[nq:1]Royce Mathew doesn't have a chance in **** of winning anything. (Unless he can get a change of venue to ... SNPM original drawing collection.

  • [nq:1]Royce Mathew doesn't have a chance in **** of winning anything.
  • (Unless he can get a change of venue to ...
  • SNPM original drawing collection.
  • Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962- Created: 1980 Registered: 29Jul05 Special Codes: 5/S[/nq] Paulo, Great detective work!
  • Doctor Jingy, I concur.
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2 Answers
0
[nq:1]Royce Mathew doesn't have a chance in **** of winning anything. (Unless he can get a change of venue to ... SNPM original drawing collection. Claimant: acRoyce Mathew , 1962- Created: 1980 Registered: 29Jul05 Special Codes: 5/S[/nq]
Paulo,
Great detective work!
Doctor Jingy, I concur.
Scott
0
[nq:1]None of these of Royce Mathew's registrations (relating to the POC/SNPM items) occurred until after the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl".[/nq]
But as long as it's registered before the trial, it's legally relevant.

His lawyer likely advised him to do it. He probably didn't have much of a clue about copyrighting movie stuff. Most people d

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