In Stromback v. New Line Cinema, the Sixth Circuit heard an infringement action brought by former professional hockey player Doug Stromback against the producers of the Adam Sandler movie, "Little Nicky."

Stromback, who is now an actor and aspiring screenwriter, alleged that "Little Nicky" copied elements of his original screenplay, "The Keeper."

Reading Judge Quist's opinion, one gets the feeling that the two works share very little in common. "The Keeper" is about a white rhymer, raised by black parents, who takes down a corrupt governor. "Little Nicky" is about the shy son of Satan who "saves the world by restoring the balance of good and evil."

Though Stromback's infringement claims have been dismissed, he has succeeded in bringing a modest amount of attention to "The Keeper." In the highly competitive screenplay industry, federal litigation is certainly one way to get people talking about your script.