Quentin Tarantino vs Miramax: dispute over “Pulp Fiction” NFT
Director Quentin Tarantino a few weeks ago announced that he will sell uncut scenes from “Pulp Fiction” as NFTs. However, Miramax-the production house of “Pulp Fiction”-on 16 November filed a lawsuit against Tarantino in a California court. In the lawsuit, Miramax accuses the director of violating the company’s copyright and trademark. Miramax also demands that Tarantino halt the upcoming sale.
The lawsuit stated that “Tarantino kept his ‘Pulp Fiction’ NFT plans secret from Miramax, his long-time financier and collaborator on multiple critically and commercially successful films”. It also stated that the director “made no efforts to contact Miramax prior to his coordinated press campaign”. That is “particularly problematic" as the director granted and assigned nearly all of his rights to “Pulp Fiction” to Miramax back in 1993.
Miramax clarifies that Tarantino's reserved rights were limited to “soundtrack album, music publishing, live performance, print publication (including without limitation screenplay publication, 'making of' books, comic books and novelisation, in audio and electronic formats as well as applicable), interactive media, theatrical and television sequel and remake rights, and television series and spin off rights” and this right is much broader and also encompass NFTs.
The lawsuit also expressed concerns on how Tarantino’s action may “mislead other creators into believing they have the right to exploit Miramax films through NFTs and other emerging technologies, when in fact Miramax holds those rights for its films”.
In his response, Tarantino voiced his disagreement. Tarantino’s legal representative Bryan Freedman on 17 November released a statement saying that actually the contract is clear enough, stating that the director has the right to sell NFTs of his hand-written script for “Pulp Fiction”. “This ham-fisted attempt to prevent him from doing so will fail,” he warned.
“But Miramax’s callous decision to disclose confidential information about its filmmakers’ contracts and compensation will irreparably tarnish its reputation long after this case is dismissed,” Freedman added.