Judge to rule on injunction against Chris Rock movie

By Eriq Gardner

Federal District Court Judge Dale Fischer will hear a motion Monday on whether to block the nationwide release of Chris Rock's "Good Hair."

Plaintiff Regina Kimbell alleges in her $5 million copyright lawsuit that Rock copied substantial elements from her own film on black hair care entitled "My Nappy Roots" after attending a private screening.

The plaintiff is focused on showing that Rock didn't tell Kimbell about his deal with HBO before he screened Kimbell's film, pointing to court documents where Rock says he couldn't recall whether he did or not. Kimbell's attorney, Reginald Brown, claims that Rock now says he didn't. 

"This just doesn't make sense," says Brown. "Why would Mrs. Kimbell knowingly screen her unreleased film for another filmmaker with distribution for a similar film?"

Doesn't seem too odd to us. How many people wouldn't want to meet Chris Rock?

But regardless, in order to enjoin Rock from distributing "Good Hair," Kimbell will need to show a likelihood of success and harm greater than the injury that Rock will suffer if the injunction is granted. Rock's movie is currently in theaters, meaning an injunction would be a huge pain in the rear for Roadside Attractions, the film's distributor. Kimbell has her work cut out for her.