Hmmm, I'd planned to go to this

Sherlock Holmes and the case of the contested copyright: Arthur Conan Doyle's estate launches legal battle over Hollywood film depicting detective during his retirement

Heirs to the literary rights of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are suing Hollywood producers over a soon-to-be released blockbuster movie which follows Sherlock Holmes during his retirement.

The author's estate, which has been involved in several high-profile legal battles, has hit the director, distributor and studio behind the upcoming Mr. Holmes with a copyright complaint, claiming the plot infringes on the fictional stories written by Conan Doyle.

The estate now wants an array of damages from those behind the film, including Miramax studio, film distributor Roadside Attractions, and director Bill Condon, who previously directed Chicago and Dreamgirls.

The Conan Doyle estate even wants the movie - which stars Sir Ian McKellen as the fictional detective - to be stopped in its tracks. The film is due to be released in the UK and the U.S in July.

The lawsuit also accuses writer Mitch Cullin and Penguin Random House, which published the book on which the film is based, of infringing on copyright.

They say the book, A Slight Trick of the Mind, has striking similarities to one of Conan Doyle's final Sherlock tales.

Although much of Conan Doyle's work is now in public domain, the the final ten works are not, and it is upon these that the heirs claim much of the book and film infringe upon. I suspect there will be a settlement, but it may delay or even prevent the movie from coming out.

Something to check out, definitely

Oh You Silly Thing, of Course He’s Gay: ‘Vicious’ on PBS Follows Two Gay Characters

I have a lot of respect for both Ian McKellen, whom I know from, well, all sorts of things, and Derek Jacobi, whom I know from the 'Brother Cadfael' mysteries. They are both very, very talented, and happen to be openly gay as well. So I'm glad PBS has brought those of us in America the sitcom, 'Vicious'. The article is a discussion not only of the series but of stereotyping in television.

The thing is...yes, there are gay stereotypes, and a reliance on them for laughs probably isn't the best thing in the world. But I've had quite a bit of experience with gays (I married a gay man, and in fact was in a 'triunity' with two, my best friends are a gay couple, and I sang in a chorus that was largely lesbian. Oh, and even though I don't normally go on about it, because it's not like I date or anything, I am attracted to both men and women, although that seems to slide along the Kinsey scale a bit depending on the time and my mood.) There are lots of real guys who flounce and do all the things people associate with gays. And yes, I've known lots of lesbians who bond quickly (the classic joke is what do lesbians bring on a third date--a U-Haul). There are also lots of real gays and lesbians who are nothing like the stereotypes. And then there are the folks somewhere in between. Not every gay man has fashion sense. Not every lesbian lacks it. And bisexuals are not merely confused. But as long as characters are portrayed as people and not merely stereotypes, I don't have trouble with it. Give me developed characters with some depth, and I'm fine. So I'm interested in seeing what these two acting greats have managed to do.