According to the Times, lawyers for both sides have agreed to allow the judge overseeing the case decide if Warner Bros. can release the film.
This case has been making fans sweat for awhile, but this probably good news. Of course it will depend on the ruling, and the likelihood of an appeal regardless of a decision is pretty high.
If the judge rules in favor of Warner Bros., without an injunction from an appeals court, the release date should be safe, at least for a few weeks.
If the judge does rule in favor of Fox, expect a lot of negotiations. Fox would then have the big red button, and it would be in Warner Bros. best interest to work out a deal where Fox gets a cut from the profits. Since Fox didn't have to finance the movie's production, it's basically free money if they work out a deal.
In court papers filed Monday with U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess, attorneys for Fox and Warner Bros. jointly said they would let the judge decide Jan. 20 whether Fox could block the film's theatrical distribution, now scheduled for March 6, as Fox has been seeking all along as part of its copyright infringement lawsuit against Warner Bros.
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This case has been making fans sweat for awhile, but this probably good news. Of course it will depend on the ruling, and the likelihood of an appeal regardless of a decision is pretty high.
If the judge rules in favor of Warner Bros., without an injunction from an appeals court, the release date should be safe, at least for a few weeks.
If the judge does rule in favor of Fox, expect a lot of negotiations. Fox would then have the big red button, and it would be in Warner Bros. best interest to work out a deal where Fox gets a cut from the profits. Since Fox didn't have to finance the movie's production, it's basically free money if they work out a deal.
"Of course it will depend on the ruling, and the likelihood of an appeal regardless of a decision is pretty."
ReplyDeleteMe, I was thinking more "ugly" then "pretty." Could go with likely even.
Either way, it is still better then the case going to trial, since that is sure to delay things well past 3/6/09