In 1953 the movie rights were bought for $10,000 by Patron Inc., a production company formed by actor James Stewart and director Alfred Hitchcock.

The short story was then made into the acclaimed movie Rear Window (1954), directed by Hitchcock and starring Stewart.

Woolrich died in 1968, before the expiration of his 28-year copyright, and control of the literary rights passed to his executor, Chase Manhattan Bank.

In 1971 and 1974, ABC aired the film through a licensing agreement with Stewart, Hitchcock, and MCA Inc. Abend, refusing to honor Woolrich's original agreement to renew the copyright and assign it to the owner of the movie rights, sued Stewart in response to this.

The Court held that the assignment was an unfulfilled contingency that died with the author; the successor can prevent continued use of the derivative work.