Creative life after death − or yes, you can control spinoffs from beyond the grave

TV shows get resuscitated, too.& Warner Bros. International/Hulton Archive via Getty Images by Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia and Reid Kress Weisbord, Rutgers University – Newark Michael Crichton, the creator of “ER” and author of “Jurassic Park,” died in 2008. So why is his estate suing Warner Bros. now? It turns out that when Crichton agreed to develop the “ER” series, he kept the right to approve – or not approve – of any sequels. That right didn’t die with him. Now that Warner is developing a new medical drama series, “The Pitt,” Crichton’s estate is claiming that the new show is simply a reboot of “ER.” Although the new show has some similarities, including some of the same actors, Warner denies all the allegations. The dispute is the most recent in a series of high-profile legal cases brought to protect the legacy of a now-dead creative artist. And yes, even after death, artists can retain some control over their work. As law professors who teach about trusts and estates, we’re following these cases so we can teach our students how authors, artists and other creative people can preserve their legacies. We’re particularly interested in three situations featuring celebrities, because...