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Top Gun: Maverick Wins Copyright Case, No Infringement Found

1/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Top Gun: Maverick did not infringe the 1983 magazine article Top Guns by Ehud Yonay.
The court noted plot differences, including a romantic subplot and the character Navy Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell training younger pilots.
The Yonays terminated their copyright license in 2020.
The district court's prior dismissal was upheld.

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Story summary

The 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Top Gun: Maverick did not infringe the 1983 magazine article Top Guns by Ehud Yonay.
The court noted plot differences, including a romantic subplot and the character Navy Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell training younger pilots.
The Yonays terminated their copyright license in 2020.
The district court's prior dismissal was upheld.