Loeb & Loeb successfully represented Apple, Access Industries, Marv Studios, The Tetris Company, Tetris’ CEO Maya Rogers and screenwriter Noah Pink in securing the dismissal of a copyright infringement dispute brought by technology journalist and author Daniel Ackerman. The suit, originally filed in August 2023, alleged that Apple and the other defendants copied Ackerman’s 2016 nonfiction book, The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized The World, to create the Apple TV+ film Tetris without his knowledge, authorization or consent. Both the book and film recount the history of the classic puzzle game, developed in 1984 in Moscow under Soviet rule.
A New York federal judge ruled in March 2025 that there were "no substantial similarities" between the book and the film, finding that factual elements, historical events and real people are unprotectable under copyright law. The judge dismissed all claims with prejudice.
The Loeb team included Barry Slotnick, chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Entertainment Litigation practice, Litigation partner Tal Dickstein and associate Elena De Santis.
A New York federal judge ruled in March 2025 that there were "no substantial similarities" between the book and the film, finding that factual elements, historical events and real people are unprotectable under copyright law. The judge dismissed all claims with prejudice.
The Loeb team included Barry Slotnick, chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property & Entertainment Litigation practice, Litigation partner Tal Dickstein and associate Elena De Santis.
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Chair, Intellectual Property and Entertainment Litigation
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Partner
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Associate