(2006)
Echo Film S.r.l. v. DigiWorld Studios, Inc.
Defendant DigiWorld contracted to purchase for $3 million certain rights in regard to a small-budget, independent, English-language, Italian-made film called “The Listening”. DigiWorld believed that the film had the potential to contend for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. However, after the film was not selected for the Oscar list, DigiWorld defaulted on its agreement to purchase the film.
DigiWorld did not pay the $3 million it agreed to pay for the film. Nor did DigiWorld return the film, which had generated interest from companies other than DigiWorld. Instead, DigiWorld and defendants Armas, Reynolds, Cinemavault, and Monarch distributed the film in the United States and internationally. DigiWorld, Armas, and Reynolds also made unauthorized edits to the film, and falsely listed Armas and Reynolds as producers of the film. All of this was done without payment for the film.
Judgment: Entry of judgment by default in the amount of $7,770,077.18 against DigiWorld Studios, Daniel Armas and Bob Reynolds for copyright infringement and fraud. Further ordered that Plaintiff is awarded attorneys’ fees in the sum o f $1,287,782.25 and costs in the sum of $78,385.61 against DigiWorld Studios.