King Estate Settles Lawsuit Against CBS Over Rights To `I Have A Dream' Speech

Jet, July 31, 2000

A four-year court battle between CBS and the estate of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over the network's use of film and video footage of King's speeches has been settled (JET, May 31, 1999).

"We are very pleased that we could resolve the issues in this matter to everyone's satisfaction," CBS News President Andrew Heyward said in a news release issued jointly with King's son, Dexter Scott King.

Under the settlement, CBS retains the right to use its footage of speeches, including the "I Have A Dream" speech, and the right to license its footage to others.

In return, CBS agreed to make a contribution to The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change to further the work it does to educate the public. It also agreed to provide footage for the estate to use in producing works about King.

The amount to be paid by CBS and whether it was a one-time contribution could not be disclosed. The network said the financial terms of the deal were confidential.

The estate filed suit in 1996, accusing CBS News of copyright infringement for its use of footage from King's "I Have A Dream" speech in a documentary, 20th Century With Mike Wallace.

The lawsuit sought to stop CBS from using the footage in the documentary, which the network was selling on videotape.

The network, however, said the estate had no right to claim ownership of the footage.