Regina Kimbell Sues Chris Rock To Block 'Good Hair'

LOS ANGELES — A filmmaker is suing Chris Rock for at least $5 million and trying to block the release of his upcoming documentary "Good Hair."

Regina Kimbell sued Rock and several film companies in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday, claiming Rock's project is a copycat of her film, "My Nappy Roots."

Kimbell states she screened her film for the comedian in 2007. The lawsuit states "My Nappy Roots" traces the business and cultural history of black hair care and has otherwise only been shown at colleges and film festivals since its completion in 2006.

Her lawsuit claims several of elements of her film have been copied.

Rock's publicist declined to comment.

"Good Hair" will be released in certain cities on Friday and nationwide on Oct. 23.

Comments

[Two Cents]

I like Chris Rock and hope the allegation isn't true. On another but related note: African American women are 6.5% of the US population, but buy 40% of hair products sold in the US ($9 billion/yr). I'm curious: 1) Who gets what percentage of that money; and 2) If (most of) it didn't go to hair, what might be done with it instead?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33216342#33216342

[Two Cents]

(. . . I'm sitting here wanting to go out and tell every black person I meet, "Hey! Did you know that as a community we have $9 billion a year at our discretion? What do you think we should do with it?")

[Bashley]

There are quite a few documentaries on this subject, and I'm sure Mr. Rock has viewed more than one of them. I wonder if the white filmmaker that made the film exposing the black haircare industry as being foreign-owned and controlled will go after any parties. His film was very popular (underground) and I've seen him speak more than once. I believe Chris Rock was able to use his celebrity and money to get access to certain places.

[fightorleave2]

Moreover, the biggest plagiarizer in the book was William Shakespeare, and yet you don't hear too many complaints. The fact is that an artist may appropriate all the history of the world into his or her own creation and no one can deny him or her the rights to it.

[Ankh1]

http://www.box.net/shared/x0b80y61fa. Read the legal documents submitted to the court yourself. It appears this not a case of merely stealing an idea but actually taking content ideas and formatting from another filmmaker. Worse yet according to the document he invited her to the Paramount Lot to view the film, she asked for a non disclosure agreement to be signed, Rock's camp refused. And according to the document he informed her he was only doing an HBO special not a full documentary. Read it for yourselves people. The blogs are only scratching the surface of this case.

[yemaya]

hmmmm

[bla2009]

At least NOW, a movie about Black Women and Hair issues will actually be SEEN in a THEATRE by a SIZABLE population. Not a new idea, clearly. That's like suing someone for doing a doc on Benjamin Franklin. Pfffft.

[zest]

All hair is good; you grow it, I'll love it.

[urfree2speak]

In conclusion the whole "Black beauty business is ran like a plantation" blacks do not control no aspects of the distribution of" black hair products" in this country. Black beauty shows are almost entirely dominated by Asians now. Koreans, Vietnamese, Pakistanis, all rule African American communities...RULE them economically, liquor stores, hair,fake eyes, all the way down to selling one cigarette...yet they employ hardly any blacks , give to hardly any black education funds..etc..in fact widespread reports reveal ..most blacks are treated poorly in these places. But they (BLACK WOMEN) STILL GO!
Thus the money flows into the hands of African Americans ,straight into the hands of other races and the "community" is ravaged! no self created jobs...may indirectly lead to kids bashing each other in the head with 2x 4's . This is not the fault of Asians or any other ethnic group, it is the fault of us /blacks we are NEGATIVE against each other...we used to "old school" we used to have lots of "black businesses...but no more...
I am going to watch this mans movie...just to see how much WEAVE these women have been buying.....just to have GOOD HAIR?
oH, dont tell a "sister" to stay away from the "good hair" oooohh..nooo....you really got issues then! She will tell you its the black mans fault...thats what the black man like!

[kaystar]

To all black women from another black woman. Your priorities are all mixed up. You are who you are and you will be you until you die, no matter how much skin lightening and hair processing you do. Live with it! On another note, I can't stand that foul-mouthed Chris Rock and I wouldn't spend one dollar on anything he is endorsing.

[urfree2speak]

Most of the posts on this matter are on target...from "black women wanting a baby with good hair" to the non protection of "ideas that float around in the atmosphere" and someone else having the right to "document" in a film their idea of social commentary. the facts are simple : today African American ...so called celebs , are "ripping of a lot of ideas ,views , thoughts , and everything else..some are packaging these "cloned" or "borrowed" ideas in books...mo­vies...etc­.. the

African Americans that have the money to actually "make a movie or write a book" will always have the advantage in a capitalistic society. In fact it has always been that way in say the black hair industry. Heck there was a time when, blacks owned makers of hair products had to sell their goods to other non black groups just to get their good into the "mainstream stores"
The only thing that Chris might be guilty of is knowing a "good idea" when he sees one! I have been in this industry for over 25 years...it is pathetic, sad and believe it or not is still segregated in most parts of the Country.Poorly regulated (reference) recent terror plot , buying beauty products at "beauty supply store.

[amdezurik]

well no, if the facts are as presented he was shown the finished 9copyrighted) product and then made his own version of it. that is called "theft' in most circles...

[Marcel09]

i got no dawg in this fight since I shave my dome lolol wifey wants me to grow my hair back but I like it no need to fix it after I shower n no need to set in babershops 'cept for our sun. I had dreads for years just got tired of it I feel Free weeee!

[CUL8R]

Gee, some people really do hate Chris! Because this woman filed a case and asserts that certain things happened, Chris Rock is guilty as sued. I think I'll wait until ALL of the facts (as in both sides) are presented before rendering a verdict (as if that's my job anyway).

[kndam72]

It is not the idea that is under dispute, it is the work an concept that has cleary been stolen/copied.
Furthermore, if you watch all the previews, he acts as if the idea is totally his and that it came to him because his daughter came home crying to him one day about her hair. Conveniently forgetting to mention that he saw an entire documentary about the issue and has essentially made a remake of it. Zero credibility.

[listentome]

If Chris did lift any of her "scenes" I hope he will do the right thing, but I must tell you that from the interviews and the clips shown, I haven't seen or heard anything that I haven't heard before. I am also not angry because if there are specifics that are exact between the two films that will be determined also. But for those who are finding Chris or Oprah guilty without knowing the facts, that is just wrong.

[kndam72]

I think that Regina Bell has a very strong case here and Chris Rock has a lot to answer for.
What makes the case even stronger is that he saw that film back in 2007 too and is now marketing his film like its all his idea. It's essentially a remake and not just a stolen idea, but a stolen film et all.

Well, I'll strike that movie of my must watch list.

shame on Chris Rock.

[hypnus]

How could you think that this woman has a strong case when you don’t know all the facts? Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't. Cases like this can be very hard to win despite what it looks like. You can’t copyright an idea; you can copyright the execution of the idea. I could make an outer space movie and have a character called, Captain Kirk and that is legal. It becomes copyright infringement if I put him on a space ship called, Enterprise, and call my movie, Star Trek. Most of these cases end up with a monetary settlement as an alternative to a protracted and far more expensive legal battle.

[Unforgivableblackness]

While I don't know if Chris Rock is guilty of Copyright infringment or not, reading about this reminded me of the Steve Nash-Shaquille O'neal feud that developed

Shaq apparently got the idea for his ABC . show directly from Steve Nash. Nash hired a entertainment lawyer and was able to get Executive Producer Credits out of it.

http://thesportsculture.com/2009/08/20/shaq-stole-steve-nashs-tv-show-idea/

[lilkunta]

This movie has been talked about since the atart of the year. Y not is Regina suing?
The movie open this fri 9 Oct in NY, DC, Atl, Chicago, LA, and nationally on fri 23 October.
She thinks she will get an injunction in 2 days? Please.

[GoingApricot]

She gets the publicity now, when the movie's getting the publicity.

I'm suing The History Channel because I had an idea for a documentary about World War II. 17,643 counts. They have no shame.

I'm suing The Discovery Channel because I had an idea about whales.

Don't even get me STARTED on Lifetime, to which I submitted several movies ideas about a mistreated wife who gets even with her husband, all the way to her uncanny resemblance to faded TV stars from the 70s and 80s.

doitprivat­e.blogspot­.com

[spilkus]

I know you are joking because you just said your ideas to the TV but this person made a movie. She collaborated with people in the world and made her ideas a movie.
Chris Rock made a better funny movie, I imagine, but the evidence will show that he appropriated her ideas.
Pay her