Summit Entertainment Sues Fans Who Tweeted Images From Upcoming Twilight Flick
from the really? dept
We've noted in the past that movie studio Summit Entertainment is more aggressive than most at going after just about anyone it thinks is violating its intellectual property -- especially when it comes to its flagship Twilight franchise. Apparently, some photos from the set of the latest installment of the film were leaked and got passed around online. Note: this wasn't video, just still photos. It's hard to see how or why anyone could be too upset about that. Having those photos passed around would seem like a nice sign of how much fans are anticipating the film. Initially, the folks behind the film (along with book author Stephenie Meyer -- who at one point seemed to get this stuff) put out a statement asking people to stop sharing the images:As some of you may know, pictures and screen grabs of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn as a work in progress have leaked on the internet. We are extremely proud of this film and also extremely heartbroken to see it out there at this stage.As these things go, that's not too bad. It's a little ridiculous to claim that some photos of a movie getting passed around is "deeply upsetting" to everyone involved in the film, but it's a heartfelt plea, not entirely unlike some suggestions we've made for other studios.
The film and these images are not yet ready or in their proper context. They were illegally obtained and their early dissemination is deeply upsetting to the actors, the filmmakers and Summit who are working so hard to bring these movies to fruition to you in November 2011 and November 2012.
Please, for those who are posting, stop. And please, though the temptation is high, don’t view or pass on these images. Wait for the film in its beautiful, finished entirety to thrill you.
However, it appears that it wasn't just a heartfelt plea going on. While they were appealing to people agreeing to stop sharing the photos, Summit was also filing a lawsuit against 10 John Does accused of sharing the images via Twitter. The lawsuit is so that the company can subpoena Twitter to try to get the identities of those individuals.
Honestly, the whole thing seems insane. These people like your movie and they can't wait to see it or get any information about it. That's a good thing. Nothing in the photos takes away from the movie or hurts the movie. Suing your fans, however for expressing how much they love the film? Yeah, that can hurt a film...
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: copyright, images, lawsuit, twilight
Companies: summit entertainment
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Not in their "proper context"?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not in their "proper context"?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Not in their "proper context"?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Not in their "proper context"?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Boycott!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Indeed, it's asinine. At best.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Fixed.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
this has officially gotten old
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
they deserved it!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: they deserved it!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I saw one of the main accounts posting the pictures and their comments towards the fandom and the movie itself were appalling. This was just the act of some hacker and troll who thought they were hurting the fans. That's not the case, fans loved what they saw, but if Summit wants to take legal action against these hackers, it's their right.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Does the image show Bella being eaten by a Monster Truck? No? Then what exactly is being spoiled here?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
They're suing to get the identities, and then those identities get swapped into the lawsuit.
So, yes, they are suing those individuals. It's not "just" to find out their names.
And how do photographs ruin a plot... especially of a movie based on a book that most of those fans have already read?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
Ruins movie for everyone waiting to see it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
Holy shit! You're right!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What is it about fantasies with the letter T?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
let's be honest...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Copyright?
So what basis do they have for suing them?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Copyright?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Shame on Summit!
Second, start using those millions upon millions of dollars to protect your material from getting hacked!!! Take responsibility for you part in this. You have way too much money for this to have happened. Third, leave alone the innocent fans who DID NOT hack into your unprotected computer, but saw them on the VERY PUBLIC internet and send them to other fans.
Fourth, if you want fans in the future DO NOT enlist them to do your dirty work in finding the hackers, then turn around and sue the very fans that were trying to be helpful.
Fifth--Shame on you Summit!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
T****T pics leaked
[ link to this | view in chronology ]