Disney Loses Court Battle Over 3D Movie Patents

HollywoodReporter.com reports that a Delaware judge says the studio giant can’t stop RealD from acquiring patents, potentially hampering Disney’s ability to turn 2D movies 3D without fear of being sued.

Walt Disney Studios has lost an appeal in a dispute that could open up questions about whether it still has the right to distribute some of its recent 3D blockbusters as well as create new films using a patented 2D-to-3D conversion process.

The dispute emanates from the bankruptcy of Digital Domain Media Group, a visual effects studio co-founded by James Cameron in 1993 that sold most of its assets to Galloping Horse America and Reliance MediaWorks last year. DDMG, the parent company, remained in bankruptcy and to satisfy debts, sought to sell its remaining assets including prized patents relating to the 2D-to-3D conversion. The bankrupt company had acquired these patents when merging with In-Three, another visual effects studio, in late 2010.

Read more at http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/disney-loses-court-battle-3d-642458