Petteri Pyyny
27 Nov 2003 13:37
Motion Picture Association of America delivered its response in a lawsuit brought against it by fourteen independent film companies over the MPAA's decision to ban so-called screener tapes and DVDs from other movie award organizations other than the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (which hands out the Oscars).
Indie movie studios had to take the action against the MPAA since without the screeners, people who vote for various awards couldn't see all of the nominated movies as movie theatres normally focus on showing the big-money blockbusters rather than "art" movies. However, most of the indie studios are either subsdiaries of bigger movie studios or distribute movies using bigger studios' distribution networks.
MPAA's lawyers argued that the association "has no control over the studios". The claim was greeted with scepticism by the judge, who replied: "Well, if that's the case, your client has no objection to withdrawing this ban."
MPAA has time until next week to come up with a defense in the case and after that the judge will decide whether to force MPAA to drop the ban or not.
Source: Guardian