Could Production Companies Successfully Sue Warner Bros. for Its HBO Max Streaming Decision?
Earlier this month, Warner Bros. stunned moviegoers when it announced that each of its films scheduled for 2021 would be released on streaming platform HBO Max on the same day as its theatrical release. The announcement was not well taken, as stakeholders from across the industry voiced objections and production companies have even threatened litigation. This week, I’ll consider the legal issues involved, including the viability of the potential lawsuits.
At the end of every semester, law school students go through a rite of passage, as they are confronted with tests that would seem insane to anyone outside of the legal community. Law school exams are not multiple choice. Instead, they describe a complex series of interlocking disasters and require the test-takers to sort everything out. Here’s a short example to give you a sense of what I’m talking about: