Episode 49 | From ER to The Pit: The Estate Battle Over Crichton’s Work

In this episode of Law and Pop Culture, Christine and Kristine dive into the headline-making lawsuit involving Michael Crichton’s estate and HBO’s new series The Pit. After spotting major similarities between the show and Crichton’s iconic medical drama ER, his widow claims the studio violated a special “Frozen Rights” clause Crichton put in place to protect his work—even after his death.

Christine breaks down what that clause means, why the judge is allowing the case to move forward, and how Crichton’s estate plan (including a trust and a literary executor!) gave his family the legal power to take action. The conversation turns to a bigger lesson: intellectual property is an asset, and without the right estate planning, creative work can easily lose protection and control.

From TV revivals to IP trusts to the importance of putting your wishes in writing, Christine and Kristine explore the real-life legal issues behind this Hollywood courtroom drama.

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