 |
|
 |
On October 10, 2006, petitioners requesting a provisional injunction against the sales of bargain-priced DVDs for films such as Roman Holiday decided to withdraw their request, for the present time. Paramount Picture Corp petitioned for a provisional injunction against First Trading Co., a Japanese DVD manufacturer and discounter for classic films, by asserting copyright infringement. Paramount Pictures argued that the revised copyright law of 2004, which extended copyright protection from 50 years to 70 years, should apply to films distributed in 1953. The Tokyo District Court, however, ruled last July, that the copyrights of such films expired at the end of 2003 under the old law. Since revisions took effect on January 1, 2004, the amendments did not apply to them. The Court thus rejected the provisional injunction request, and Paramount subsequently appealed to the Intellectual Property High Court. The attorneys for the U.S. firm said that they have not accepted the District Court's ruling. However, they will withdraw their request for now, to consider possible future litigation. A number of outstanding films were released before1953. The determination that they will enter the public domain and that their DVDs can be sold at deep discounts in Japan, may have a large impact on the movie industry.
|
 |
Copyright ⓒ [2006] [Keisen Associates], All rights reserved |
 |