Written by Chris Albrecht
Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 10:43 AM PT

Three for Three: Redbox Sues Warner

RedboxLogo Well, we knew it was coming. Redbox has now filed a lawsuit against Time Warner’s Warner Home Video unit over the studio’s plan to inhibit the DVD kiosk company from obtaining new release movies as soon as they come out. For those of you keeping track, this marks the third lawsuit Redbox has filed against a major studio in response to a release window.

There’s been a lot of Redbox news in the past couple of weeks, so rather than rehashing the same language over and over, here’s a handy historical link guide to the ruckus Redbox has been causing in Hollywood:

Aug. 18, 2009: Redbox v. Universal Will Move Forward – Redbox won a small victory in its first case.

Aug. 13: If Warner v. Redbox Was a Movie, It Would Be 28 Days Later – Warner decides it won’t play nice with Redbox.

Aug. 12: Redbox Riles Up the Movie Industry, Files Suit Against Fox – Redbox files its second studio suit over release windowing.

Aug. 11: Lions Gate Jumps Into Redbox Deal – Studios take sides, Lions Gate joins Sony in playing nice with Redbox.

Aug. 6: Fox Goes to War with Redbox – Studio imposes a release window against the kiosk company.

July 23: Netflix Q2 Call: More Streaming, More Redbox – In an earnings call, Netflix reasserts that Redbox is its biggest competitor.

July 22: Redbox Signs Sony to a $460 Million Distribution Agreement – Sony signs up with Redbox, first studio to do so.

Oct. 15, 2008: Redbox Sues Universal – Redbox says the studio broke antitrust laws with its release window.

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Topic: Distribution, Legal, Networks & Studios

Comments (4)

Redbox must have some extra cash they want to burn. Biting the hand that feeds is never a good approach.

TK

timekeeper — 2:41 PM on August 19, 2009 Reply
- Well that hand clearly isn’t feeding it in a timely fashion. And I suspect the courts won’t give a crap about the studios beloved release windows.
  
  Dave Zatz — 3:30 AM on August 20, 2009 Reply
  - I gotta agree with Dave on this one. I don’t see it as biting the hand as much as Redbox sticking to its guns.
    
    Chris Albrecht, NewTeeVee — 8:28 AM on August 20, 2009
The Redbox VS. Warner Brothers case is now online at the AllRise court – http://bit.ly/421q8d

AllRise — 12:16 PM on August 20, 2009 Reply

Linkbacks (8)

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Redbox Q3 Revenue Up 90% Over Last Year — 7:55 AM on November 6, 2009
[...] The business model is so simple, it’s almost shocking that it’s reached such a large scale. In Salt Lake City the company has one kiosk per 3,000 residents and Redbox is installing another kiosk every hour. In terms of content, Cohen, said the company just passed a half a billion movies; it’s done deals with Sony, Lions Gate, Paramount and Disney. But not every content provider wants to be friends with Redbox — the company has been mired in lawsuits. [...]

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