Indie Filmmakers

MPAA, Indie Filmmakers Argue "Screener" Ban In Court; Verdict Due Friday

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 4, 2003 - 6:35am.

New York -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and a group of independent filmmakers including the Independent Feature Project (IFP) and Miramax head Harvey Weinstein argued in court Wednesday, as the indie filmmakers made their case for an injunction against the MPAA's ban on sending "screener" copies of movies to awards voting societies as a means of quelling piracy. IndieWire.com reported that Chief Federal Judge Michael Mukasey will issue his ruling on Friday morning at 10 a.m. In part of a declaration presented at the hearing, Miramax head Harvey Weinstein testified, "The awards season and the distribution of screeners have been critical during the past decade in the success and development of independent films, independent filmmakers, and the specialty divisions of the major studios."

tags: Law | MPAA | Screener | Indie Filmmakers |

IFP, Indie Filmmakers Sue MPAA Over Ban on Awards Screeners

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 25, 2003 - 7:04am.

New York -- A group of independent filmmakers, including the Los Angeles and New York chapters of the Independent Feature Project (IFP), on Monday sued the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), asking a federal judge to place an injunction against the MPAA's ban on the distribution of "screener" copies of films to members of various groups that vote on awards. The MPAA enacted a full ban on screeners as a means of stemming potential piracy, but later said it would allows VHS movies to be distributed -- only to those who vote on the Academy Awards -- which prompted complaints from the Golden Globes and others. In its lawsuit, the independent filmmakers say that the MPAA has "conspired" with the major studios to eliminate competitive rivalry among themselves and independent film producers; the group also allegedly "conspired" with the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to unlawfully disadvantage other competing critics' evaluation and awards events. A hearing on the injunction is set for Wednesday morning before the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.