The other issue I see is that, from the point of view of the individual theatres that are getting these letters from Rudin, the theatres' agreements to produce the Sergel are with the licensing house. Rudin doesn't come into it at all and a cease and desist letter from him would have no standing. I mean, I could also send a cease and desist letter, and the theatre would have no more reason to pay any attention to Rudin's then they would mine.
If I was running a theatre and received such a letter, my first action would be to contact the licensing house, the entity with which I have my signed contract, to follow up. And, until I received communication from them, I would do nothing.
Only once I received word from the licensing house that the rights are rescinded, would this decision carry any weight. And I assume that the contracts would already contain language about what happens in the event that rights are rescinded.
So it seems to me that Rudin is possibly spending a lot of money preparing and sending letters in a fit of pique that have no legal standing. As I said above, his recourse needs to be pursued with the estate, not these theatres that are down the chain. |
