Sixth Floor Museum Gets Sued for Copyright AGAIN
Why Is the Sixth Floor Museum Being Sued? Understanding the Nix Film Lawsuit
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas is now at the center of a high-stakes legal battle. In a lawsuit filed in April 2025, plaintiffs ONF Licensing, LLC and Orville Nix, Jr. are suing the museum and attorney James Lorin Silverberg for over $1 million in damages and seeking to rescind a historic agreement involving one of the few existing films of the JFK assassination: the Nix film.
What Is the Nix Film?
The Nix film was captured by Orville Nix, Sr., and is one of the films that best recorded the assassination of President Kennedy. This film is historically significant because it shows a clear view of the grassy knoll—a location where many believe a second shooter may have been positioned.
Key Allegations in the Lawsuit
According to the complaint, the lawsuit hinges on a serious conflict of interest involving attorney James Silverberg. Here are the major allegations:
1. Undisclosed Conflict of Interest
In 1999, Orville Nix Jr. and his family hired Silverberg to represent them in negotiating the sale of the Nix film's copyright and several physical copies to the Sixth Floor Museum. What the family allegedly didn’t know was that, at the same time, Silverberg was also working for the Museum on other intellectual property matters—including licensing rights to the Zapruder film.
2. Fraudulent Misrepresentation and Non-Disclosure
The plaintiffs claim that the Sixth Floor Museum and Silverberg failed to disclose this dual representation, which is a clear ethical violation. The museum is accused of knowingly participating in and benefiting from Silverberg’s breach of his fiduciary duties.
3. Improperly Acquired Copyright
The plaintiffs argue that the 2000 contract transferring the copyright to the Museum was tainted by fraud and deception, and therefore null and void. They are asking the court to rescind the agreement, return ownership of the film and its copyright, and compensate them for damages including lost licensing revenue and potential copyright enforcement actions.
Why This Case Matters
This lawsuit raises significant questions about attorney ethics, conflict of interest, and the treatment of historically significant artifacts. The plaintiffs argue that the Sixth Floor Museum—a publicly supported nonprofit—failed to act in good faith when acquiring rights to the Nix film. They have even pointed to ethical return policies adopted by institutions like the Smithsonian to argue for the film's return.
Legal Claims
The complaint alleges three main causes of action:
Fraud by Misrepresentation – For falsely representing Silverberg’s role as solely the family's attorney.
Fraud by Non-Disclosure – For failing to inform the family of Silverberg’s concurrent representation of the Museum.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty – Against Silverberg for violating ethical obligations to his clients.
See for yourself
This case brings renewed public attention to the few remaining primary source materials related to JFK’s assassination—and who truly controls them.
Here is more about Nix’s Complaint, and Silverberg’s Motion to Dismiss, and the Museum’s Answer.
