'Citizenfour' Producers Sued Over Edward Snowden Leaks

An anonymous reader writes with this news from The Hollywood Reporter: Horace Edwards, who identifies himself as a retired naval officer and the former secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation, has filed a lawsuit in Kansas federal court that seeks a constructive trust over monies derived from the distribution of Citizenfour. Edwards ... seeks to hold Snowden, director Laura Poitras, The Weinstein Co., Participant Media and others responsible for "obligations owed to the American people" and "misuse purloined information disclosed to foreign enemies." It's an unusual lawsuit, one that the plaintiff likens to "a derivative action on behalf of the American Public," and is primarily based upon Snowden's agreement with the United States to keep confidentiality. ... Edwards appears to be making the argument that Snowden's security clearance creates a fiduciary duty of loyalty — one that was allegedly breached by Snowden's participation in the production of Citizenfour without allowing prepublication clearance review. As for the producers and distributors, they are said to be "aiding and abetting the theft and misuse of stolen government documents." The lawsuit seeks a constructive trust to redress the alleged unjust enrichment by the film. A 1980 case that involved a former CIA officer's book went up to the Supreme Court and might have opened the path to such a remedy.

Comments

I guess it's time to watch that movie.

[Anonymous Coward]

There must be something worth seeing in there.

Re: I guess it's time to watch that movie.

[Anonymous Coward]

Once that site gets taken down by the govt, you can find it on the pirate bay

Re: Does he stand a chance?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes. And a few years later, once the Republican president has gotten comfortable with his job, if you make a comment like that, you will disappear. Welcome to the USSA.