NBC Universal Dean Martin Show suit settled

By Ned Randolph -- Video Business, 1/8/2008

JAN. 8 | A lawsuit filed by NBC Universal asserting ownership to episodes of The Dean Martin Show, which aired on the station from 1965 to 1975, has been settled, according to the fan-based Web site Thegolddiggers.wordpress.com.

The Aug. 3 complaint contended that excerpts from a 29-volume Best of Dean Martin video series being hawked by Guthy-Renker Corp. included portions of episodes owned by NBC Universal.

Guthy-Renker had purchased the episodes from the estate of Greg Garrison Productions, the original producer of the show. But the content apparently included sections owned by the studio and not Greg Garrison.

Many fans, such as those behind the Golddiggers Web site, the name of which refers to the women who starred on the show with Martin, would like to see all of the episodes of The Dean Martin Show made available. NBC Universal had apparently been considering packaging the Dean Martin properties when representatives learned of the Best of Dean Martin video series.

The case was settled and dismissed with prejudice on Jan. 2 by a U.S. District court judge, meaning it can't be brought up again by NBCU or any of the parties named in the suit.

Although the terms of the agreement are not known, Guthy-Renker has resumed selling the Best of Dean Martin series after halting orders while the case was pending.