OFF BEAT: Judge allows 'Lovelace' to be released as scheduled

A federal judge has deep-sixed efforts by the producers of a porn classic to block the release a big screen biopic chronicling the life of “Deep Throat” star Linda Lovelace.

On Tuesday, Las Vegas-based Arrow Productions Ltd., owners to the rights of the 1972 X-rated film, sued the makers of the new film “Lovelace” in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan this week for $10 million. The plaintiffs claim that the defendants, which include production company Millennium Films Inc. and the film's distributor, New York-based The Weinstein Co., for using the title as well as five minutes of footage from “Deep Throat” “without license or permission."

Lawyers for Millennium contend that "Lovelace" did not violate Arrow's trademarks and copyrights and the use of Ms. Lovelace's name and likeness is protected by the first amendment.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa denied the plaintiff's request for temporary restraining order against the makers of Lovelace, enabling the movie to be released as scheduled.