BEIJING A court ruled Friday that a Chinese science fiction writer did not have enough evidence to prove that 20th Century Fox stole his ideas when making the 2004 movie "The Day After Tomorrow." Li Jianmin, 43, had said there were at least 308 scenes in the film that were substantially similar to the concept and plots of two plays he completed in 2001 and 2002, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The apocalyptic film, starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal, depicts a world in which climate change triggers a cascade of events that practically flash-freeze the planet.
Li could not prove that his plays were completed in 2001 and 2002, nor could he establish that 20th Century Fox had access to his plays, Xinhua reported, citing the decision by the Intermediate People's Court of Dongying, in eastern China's Shandong province. The writer, who planned to appeal, had sued the movie studio, director Roland Emmerich and five Chinese companies that imported and distributed the film. He wanted the court to acknowledge copyright infringement and for the defendants to pay all legal costs, but made no claim for damages.
20th Century Fox (owned by News Corp.) denied infringing Li's copyright, Xinhua said. BEIJING A court ruled Friday that a Chinese science fiction writer did not have enough evidence to prove that 20th Century Fox stole his ideas when making the 2004 movie "The Day After Tomorrow.
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