Judge Allows Sony Pictures To Release "The Illusionist" Next Month

Judge Dolly M. Gee has refused to grant an injunction to Illusionist Distribution, which holds the rights to The Illusionist, starring Edward Nortion, allowing Sony Pictures to release The Illusionist next month. The Sony Pictures film is animated, and is based on a screenplay by French director/actor Jacques Tati. Illusionist Distribution, which filed its suit October 25, had argued that audiences would be confused by the similarity in title and that its picture, "The Illusionist" had acquired a distinctive meaning.