By Nathan Ferguson
Miramax, the firm at the back of the film Pulp Fiction, has filed a case against Quentin Tarantino (the director) to have allegedly infringed the copyrights by selling the NFTs based on the 1994’s blockbuster thereof. On 2nd November, Tarantino declared to tokenize seven unedited scenes out of the film, which is critically acclaimed, in NFTs (non-fungible tokens) during this year’s December.
The respective NFTs will be constructed on a blockchain operating on layer one, called Secret Network. Each out of those tokens would contain Pulp Fiction’s unedited earliest handwritten scripts and special commentary by Tarantino, disclosing the secrets regarding the film as well as the creator thereof.
Miramax possesses the copyrights of the classic edition of the masterpiece of the director. In the case filed on November 16th under the jurisdiction of California’s Central District, the owner appealed that Tarantino retained the plans for launching the NFTs as a secret and thus the declaration has allegedly caused an interference with the company’s ideas to mint the NFTs of the very film. It added that this move had devalued the NFT rights over Pulp Fiction which Miramax expects to enhance via a planned comprehensive method, as noted by Bart Williams (the attorney of Miramax) in his statement.
William additionally accused the team of Tarantino for purposefully premeditating, instant money grab. He added that the respective group greedily, recklessly, and intentionally disrespected the contract signed by Quentin rather than complying with the distinct as well as the principled attitude by modestly having a communication with the owner company regarding the ideas.
The case mentioned that no efforts were made by the director to interact with Miramax in advance of the coordinated press promotion thereof, rather made some potentially comprehensive negotiations regarding the construction and selling of the respective NFTs with the third parties.
The lawyers of Tarantino have asserted that he has the right to the original screenplay’s publication as mentioned in the contract of Miramax, as well as, he is utilizing his right via the sale of NFTs. Nonetheless, it has been argued by Miramax that the sale of NFTs is one-time, and therefore, is not similar to that of a screenplay’s publication. The case also pointed out the assertions of breaching the agreement, trademark infringement, and copyright infringement, as well as the unfair opposition. A cease and desist letter has been sent by Miramax to Tarantino to stop the respective sale.