Gilliam v. American Broadcasting Cos., Inc.
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
538 F.2d 14 (1976)
Monty Python (plaintiff) produced television scripts under an agreement limiting the BBC to only minor script edits and barring alterations after recording; ABC (defendant) acquired U.S. broadcast rights to two 90-minute specials and, despite assuring Monty Python the specials would air in full, cut 24 minutes from the first broadcast for commercials and content deemed offensive, removing key jokes' climaxes and plot details and leaving the skits disjointed. Monty Python sued to enjoin ABC from airing the second special similarly altered; the district court denied a preliminary injunction, citing uncertainty over copyright ownership, and Monty Python appealed.
Whether artists have the right to require works attributed to them to be presented without substantial alteration.