Los Angeles-headquartered entertainment company Miramax has sued director Quentin Tarantino over his plans to create an auction NFTs based on Pulp Fiction. A report disclosed this news earlier today, noting that the studio filed the lawsuit on November 16. Reportedly, Miramax alleges that Tarantino does not have the right to create NFTs based on the 1994 movie.
According to the report, Tarantino partnered with SCRT Labs to drop the NFT collection, which comprises seven pieces, as the first project on the Secret Network. The collection is set to drop in December and the NFTs feature scanned digital copies of handwritten script pages for uncut versions of scenes from the film, audio commentary, and other elements.
Tarantino’s NFT website reads,
The original, handwritten screenplay of the iconic ‘Royale with Cheese’ scene by Quentin Tarantino will soon be up for sale. For more than 25 years, the original script remained hidden. Alongside the screenplay, the NFT includes a unique recording of Quentin Tarantino, revealing secrets that only exist in the original.
Per the site, the lucky people that purchase the rare Secret NFTs would get a glimpse into the mind and creative process of Tarantino. After buying the NFTs, the owner can either keep the secrets, share them with family and friends, or share them publicly.
A move to cash in on the NFT boom?
Miramax filed the lawsuit with a federal court in Los Angeles, noting that Tarantino’s move to auction Pulp Fiction NFTs is a breach of contract. Miramax also alleged copyright infringements, trademark infringement, and unfair competition.
The movie studio added that Tarantino is looking to cash in on the NFT boom by selling the scripts, although it owns and controls the rights to excerpts of any version of the screenplay to Pulp Fiction. Miramax argued that Tarantino essentially signed away rights to all media related to the film when it was under development in 1993.
According to Miramax, Tarantino’s conduct forced it to bring this lawsuit against a valued collaborator to enforce, preserve, and protect its contractual and intellectual property rights. The organization added that Pulp Fiction is one of its most iconic and valuable film properties.
Miramax further noted that leaving Tarantino’s actions unchecked could deceive people into believing that it was involved in his venture. The movie studio added that allowing Tarantino to walk scot-free might mislead other directors into pursuing similar exploits.
In the filing, Miramax asserted that it holds the rights needed to develop, market, and sell NFTs relating to its deep film library.
Nonetheless, Tarantino’s lawyer argues that the creation and the sale of NFTs fall under the partial rights the director held from the production. These include rights to screenplay publication.
