Highlighting the situation in the Russian market in the absence of departed brands, we will analyze a case that proves the importance of continuing to monitor the violations and protect rights to works, even in cases where the rights holders have suspended their commercial activity on the territory.
In the first quarter of 2022, Sony Pictures and several other rights holders, including Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal, suspended their operations in Russia, halting the release of new films. However, about six months later, "Sony Pictures Productions and Releasing" (SPPR) changed its name to "Content Club," transferring all obligations and rights under contracts from its former representation of Sony, including rights to content. The owner remained a company registered in Delaware, SPPR Holdings Russia.
Recently, "Content Club" filed 20 lawsuits against Russian cinema chains for a total of 1 billion rubles due to debts from contracts signed in 2019, prior to the suspension of operations in Russia, as reported by RBC.
The claims reportedly arose from significant overextensions in the duration of screenings for the latest releases: instead of three to six weeks, films were shown for four months. This was due to the fact that, in the absence of new releases, cinema chains significantly extended the showings of films released before the Hollywood studios ceased operations in Russia.
At the same time, TKM lawyers emphasize that even departed Western companies have the ability to seek compensation for damages caused by violations of intellectual property rights if they extend legal protection in national offices.
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Contact us for consultations on strategic consulting and legal support of trademarks to forecast and minimize risks, maintain reputation, and overcome difficulties occurring during #re-entering the market:
client-service@tkm-ic.com
+7 (495) 540 44 57
Sources: https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/27/02/2025/67bf11d99a7947632c671b33
https://pravo.ru/news/257594/
In the first quarter of 2022, Sony Pictures and several other rights holders, including Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal, suspended their operations in Russia, halting the release of new films. However, about six months later, "Sony Pictures Productions and Releasing" (SPPR) changed its name to "Content Club," transferring all obligations and rights under contracts from its former representation of Sony, including rights to content. The owner remained a company registered in Delaware, SPPR Holdings Russia.
Recently, "Content Club" filed 20 lawsuits against Russian cinema chains for a total of 1 billion rubles due to debts from contracts signed in 2019, prior to the suspension of operations in Russia, as reported by RBC.
The claims reportedly arose from significant overextensions in the duration of screenings for the latest releases: instead of three to six weeks, films were shown for four months. This was due to the fact that, in the absence of new releases, cinema chains significantly extended the showings of films released before the Hollywood studios ceased operations in Russia.
At the same time, TKM lawyers emphasize that even departed Western companies have the ability to seek compensation for damages caused by violations of intellectual property rights if they extend legal protection in national offices.
To follow our news and stay informed on the topic of foreign brands protection on the Russian market subscribe our channels:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/tkm-ic
Our experts’ articles: https://tkm-ic.com/news-en
Contact us for consultations on strategic consulting and legal support of trademarks to forecast and minimize risks, maintain reputation, and overcome difficulties occurring during #re-entering the market:
client-service@tkm-ic.com
+7 (495) 540 44 57
Sources: https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/27/02/2025/67bf11d99a7947632c671b33
https://pravo.ru/news/257594/