Miramax is suing director Quentin Tarantino over his plans to sell seven non-fungible tokens primarily based on his 1994 movie “Pulp Fiction.” The Hollywood studio argues that Tarantino can be violating the copyrights it holds for the movie.
On November 2, Tarantino announced his plans to sell the digital collectibles primarily based on “exclusive scenes” from the movie. The NFTs would include hidden content material for every proprietor.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court docket for the Central District of California, accuses Tarantino of breaching his contract, copyright and trademark infringement, and unfair competitors. The grievance claims Tarantino signed an settlement on June 23, 1993, which gave Miramax the “sole and exclusive right” to all copyrights and emblems of the movie.
The swimsuit says Tarantino holds some “reserved rights” that are “far too narrow for him to unilaterally produce, market, and sell” the NFTs.
Miramax claims Tarantino saved the NFT plans a secret from the studio as a result of he is aware of Miramax holds “broad rights” to the movie. The corporate has requested the lawsuit be settled in a jury trial and requested to be reimbursed for damages and the price of legal professionals. ViacomCBS owns a minority stake in Miramax.
“Left unchecked, Tarantino’s conduct could mislead others into believing Miramax is involved in his venture,” the lawsuit reads. “And it could also mislead others into believing they have the rights to pursue similar deals or offerings, when in fact Miramax holds the rights needed to develop, market, and sell NFTs relating to its deep film library.”
Nonetheless, the director’s legal professional, Bryan Freedman, argues that Tarantino has the precise to sell the NFTs. “Miramax is wrong — plain and simple. Quentin Tarantino’s contract is clear: he has the right to sell NFTs of his hand-written script for Pulp Fiction and this ham-fisted attempt to prevent him from doing so will fail,” Freedman informed the Related Press.
“Pulp Fiction” is Tarantino’s second movie, which helped set up him as a extremely sought-after director. The movie, which stars Uma Thurman, John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, weaves the tales of gangsters, mob bosses, and hitmen in a violent, cult basic. In 1994, the film gained the Palme d’Or, the highest prize on the Cannes movie pageant, and was later preserved within the Library of Congress in 2013 for its cultural significance.
“My work is kind of unmistakably me, and I like that about it. But you know, you are either going to really dig it or you’re gonna be against it,” Tarantino informed CBS Information in 2009.
