by Jennifer Matos

If the phrase “What a Feeling” stirs up deep emotions in you, it probably has something to do with the 1983 movie “Flashdance” starring Jennifer Beals.  Beals came on the scene with her debut in this movie about a dancer with aspirations of going to a prestigious dancing school and moonlights as a welder.  The movie sparked some fashion crazes that included off-the-shoulder sweatshirts and leg warmers.

Taking a page out of Beals’ book, another Jennifer was inspired to include the Beals portrayal in her work.  That someone would be singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, who wears similar attire and imitates similar Beals moves in her music video “I’m Glad”, backed by Sony Music Corp.  The Lopez video caught the attention of Paramount Pictures who sued Sony for the unauthorized use of “Flashdance” material.  The suit against Epic Records, Lopez’s label and Sony’s parent company was settled for an undisclosed amount.

But before Beals and Lopez, there was a real life “flash dancer” named Maureen Marder, a  construction worker and dancer who the movie and subsequent video were inspired by.  She took the matter to court filing a lawsuit to gain copyright interest in the 1983 movie and the 2003 music video.

On Monday, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of appeals in San Francisco upheld a previous decision saying that Marder had already signed over her rights to any claims in the “Flashdance” enterprise.  Marder signed on with Paramount Pictures in 1982 and earned $2,300 for her story.  In their statement, the Justices wrote "there is simply no evidence that [Marder's] consent was obtained by fraud, deception, misrepresentation, duress or undue influence."

Marder had also sued Sony Corp over the Lopez music video, but the courts dismissed that suit as well.

You can add on to the over $150 million earnings of the Adrian Lyne directed drama by renting the DVD at your local video store.