Playwright David Adjmi Wins Legal Battle Over Play '3C'

Great news! Playwright David Adjmi has won his legal battle with DLT Entertainment. The writer was accused of copyright infringement for his play '3C', a dark parody of THREE'S COMPANY, which originally ran off-Broadway at Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre in 2012.

According to Howard Sherman's blog, after nearly three years, Judge Loretta A. Preska, Chief United States District Court Judge, has ruled:

"Adjmi wishes to authorize publication of 3C and licensing of the play for further production and therefore brings this action seeking a declaration that 3C does not infringe DLT's copyright in Three's Company. Adjmi's motion is GRANTED..."

Later in the ruling, the judge clarifies:

"Despite the many similarities between the two, 3C is clearly a transformative use of Three's Company. 3C conjures up Three's Company by way of familiar character elements, settings, and plot themes, and uses them to turn Three's Company's sunny 1970s Santa Monica into an upside-down, dark version of itself. DLT may not like that transformation, but it is transformation nonetheless...Equating the two to each other as a thematic or stylistic matter is untenable; 3C is a fair use 'sheep,' not an 'infringing goat.' See Campbell, 510 U.S. at 586."

Before filing the suit, THREE'S COMPANY's lawyers sent Adjmi a cease-and-desist letter that claimed the play used too many elements from the show. In response, the playwright initially acquiesced, agreeing to withdraw the play for further licensing.

But in light of support from his fellow playwrights, from attorneys at Davis, Wright Tremaine and the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund, he filed suit to obtain a declaratory judgment for the court that his play was a fair use of the copyrighted work. DLT then filed a counterclaim against Adjmi for copyright infringement.

No theaters have mounted productions of the play since it closed. Where do you think it will take the stage first?

3C is officially described as: "The war in Vietnam is over and Brad, an ex-serviceman, lands in L.A. to start a new life. When he winds up trashed in Connie and Linda's kitchen after a wild night of partying, the three strike a deal for an arrangement that has hilarious and devastating consequences for everyone. Or are they non-consequences? Inspired by 1970s sitcoms, 1950s existentialist comedy, Chekhov, and disco anthems, 3C is a terrifying yet amusing look at a culture that likes to amuse itself, even as it teeters on the brink of ruin."

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski