Judge Rules That Eisenberg Lawsuit Against Lionsgate May Proceed

A Los Angeles trial court judge is allowing Jesse Eisenberg's lawsuit for false advertising and infringement of his right of publicity against Lionsgate to proceed. Mr. Eisenberg (The Social Network) has a cameo in the 2007 film Camp Hell, released some three years later. His name appears above the title on the DVD release and he alleges that Lionsgate is using his current fame to encourage sales of the movie. Lionsgate countered via an anti-SLAPP motion that Mr. Eisenberg's lawsuit constituted an attack on its First Amendment rights, and claimed that it was speaking on matters of public interest.

Judge Linda Lefkowitz held that Mr. Eisenberg's complaint is based in the commercial nature of the speech. Here's a link to the ruling, courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter.