Piracy claims hold up bank robber film before U.S. release
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To the dismay of film distributor Osiris Entertainment, viewers could watch “Electric Slide” online before it hits the domestic box office next month.
As stated in the claim Osiris Entertainment has filed against producer Myriad Pictures at the arbitration unit of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the foreign release of “Electric Slide,” starring newly minted Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette, allegedly caused the film to be “pirated and leaked online,” according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.
The film about infamous bank robber Eddie Dodson, aka the New York Yankees Bandit, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2014 and was released in Thailand in November, according to the Internet Movie Database.
The Hollywood Reporter states that, according to arbitration papers, Osiris Entertainment is upset that Myriad Pictures allowed the film to open in countries, such as Thailand, which are “notorious for piracy,” prior to being released in the United States and Canada.
“Much like decisions on when best to release a film in different formats, the timing of geographical distribution is a delicate dance that’s increasingly becoming important in an era of digital networks pushing the boundaries of globalized commerce,” The Hollywood Reporter writes.
Osiris Entertainment demands “a big discount” on the amount it agreed to pay for “Electric Slide,” as Myriad reportedly already had deals in place for foreign distribution when the deal was struck, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Osiris Entertainment, Myriad Pictures and the Independent Film & Television Alliance did not immediately return requests for comment.
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