LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - For the moment, superspy James Bond still works for MGM. A federal judge on Wednesday granted the movie studio a temporary injunction to prevent Hollywood rival Sony from making a movie about the suave British agent 007 with a license to kill. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie came after he heard arguments in court on Monday from Sony, which is trying to break MGM‘s near-monopoly on Bond movies. According to Rafeedie‘s written ruling in favour of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc, the injunction bars Sony from either making a movie or using the name James Bond or 007 to promote or market such a film. But the injunction, which takes effect as soon as MGM pays a $500,000 bond, is temporary and the whole issue of who owns the rights to the James Bond character is still scheduled to go to trial in December. MGM, whose 18 films about the legendary fictional spy have generated some $3 billion in ticket sales, since „Dr. No“ in 1962, was pleased with Rafeedie‘s ruling. „This is a great victory,“ the company said in a statement.

„The judge‘s decision is a vindication of our position that MGM and (partner) Danjaq — which have spent the last 36 years creating the most popular and enduring franchise in motion-picture history — have the exclusive right to make James Bond movies. There was no immediate comment from Sony Pictures Entertainment on the ruling. Sony asserts it can make Bond movies because a producer working for the studio, Kevin McClory, co-wrote the 1965 Bond film „Thunderball“ with the spy‘s creator, Ian Fleming, and therefore has rights to the Bond character. MGM says McClory only has rights to characters, plots and situations from „Thunderball,“ which was remade once already with 1983‘s „Never Say Never Again.“ Sony has been talking to directors and writers about developing a Bond script, according to film industry sources. But MGM said a Bond film outside the scope of „Thunderball“ infringes on its and Danjaq‘s rights to make Bond movies.