'Spider-Man' producers punch back at Julie Taymor

By Mark Kennedy

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 17 2012 2:45 p.m. MST

FILE - In this June 14, 2011 file photo, director Julie Taymor arrives at the opening night performance of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark" in New York. Producers of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” have fired back in their legal battle with one-time director Julie Taymor, claiming in a countersuit that she failed to fulfill her legal obligations and refused to collaborate on changes to the $75 million show.

Charles Sykes, Associated Press

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Summary

Producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" have fired back in their legal fight with one-time director Julie Taymor, claiming in a countersuit she failed to fulfill her legal obligations and refused to collaborate on changes to the $75 million show.

NEW YORK — Producers of Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" have fired back in their legal fight with one-time director Julie Taymor, claiming in a countersuit she failed to fulfill her legal obligations and refused to collaborate on changes to the $75 million show.

The countersuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Taymor and her company, LOH Inc. It argues the show "is a success despite Taymor, not because of her."

The Tony Award-winning director slapped the producers and her former co-book writer with a copyright infringement lawsuit in November, alleging they violated her creative rights and haven't compensated her for the work she put into Broadway's most expensive musical. She's seeking a minimum of $1 million.

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