Business Notes COPYRIGHTS

Every Hitchcock film has an unexpected twist. But last week the master of suspense's Rear Window was the subject of a legal surprise. In a 6-to-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1983 rerelease of the 1954 classic infringed the copyright of the Cornell Woolrich story, It Had to Be Murder, on which the movie was based. After Woolrich's death, his estate renewed the story's copyright. In the majority opinion, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote that the film could not be shown without permission from the current holder of the copyright, even though Woolrich had promised to renew his agreement with the filmmakers. The winner in the case was Sheldon Abend, a literary agent who bought the copyright from Woolrich's estate for $650 in 1971. Since 1983, Rear Window has grossed more than $12 million for its owners, who include star Jimmy Stewart. A lower court will decide how much Abend should receive.