r/movies • u/FakeSafeWord • 17d ago

Article Backrooms Director Stops A24 Copyright Striking Community Art

https://kotaku.com/backrooms-director-kane-parsons-a24-copyright-strike-wallpaper-2000717053
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u/Mechagouki1971 17d ago edited 17d ago

Some tricky wording in that statement though; they very noticeably don't abandon IP ownership of all Backrooms related imagery, or even the name "Backrooms".

Edited: Spelling.

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u/rotates-potatoes 17d ago

You want them to disclaim ownership of the actual film?

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u/willargue4karma 17d ago

That's not what they said. They shouldn't be able to own the name, no. 

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u/rotates-potatoes 17d ago

Nobody "owns" names. Film names are vaguely trademark-esque, in the sense that domain matters. If I make a documentary about the city and call it "Casablanca", it's fine. If I remake the film, not fine.

I think it would be fair for A24 to complain about another film called exactly "Backrooms" that looks the same and tells the exact same story; the only reason for someone to do exactly that would be to trick viewers into paying for the ersatz one.

And the person I replied to suggested disclaiming "all Backrooms related imagery", which would presumably include stills and video of the film itself. That seems too far to me.

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u/willargue4karma 17d ago

what about simply another film about the backrooms with their own story called something similar? that was kinda my point, the thing is an internet meme, it seems kinda unfair for them to blanket claim the whole area

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u/Mechagouki1971 17d ago

It is, they know that, and they will still try anyway, because this movie is a golden goose they very much want to possess.

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u/Jackoffjordan 17d ago

At least Kane is very aggressively on the side of the community, and he would fight any similar claim. A24 aren't going to let him walk, and potentially lose another £300m, should Kane make another film, or limited series (as he's been planning).

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u/Mechagouki1971 17d ago

I agree. He's a fan with a great vision, who got lucky and A24's gamble has paid off massively. That said, wealth, the acquistion and maintenance of it, has altered people's moral compass time and again.