Hollywood
World IP Day celebration in Delhi and Mumbai
MUMBAI: A range of stakeholders from the local screen community united to stage a number of events in celebration of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day. This year’s theme campaigns celebrate the brilliance, ingenuity and courage of women who are driving change in the world and shaping our common future.
The events were supported by the Motion Picture Distributors Association – India, (MPDA), the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) – IP division, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the American Center, New Delhi.
Special Screening of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri hosted by the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai
On April 26, 2018, the celebrations kicked off with an exclusive screening of Fox Star Studios’ latest film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, hosted by the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai in association with MPDA, for over one hundred special invitees from the local screen community and Government officials. The event featured a welcome from U.S. Consul General Edgard Kagan and remarks by Christine Haight Farley, U.S. based IPR lawyer and Rucha Pathak, Chief Creative Officer, Fox Star Studios.
U.S. Consul General Edgard Kagan, said,” We aren’t here today to talk just about the great movies being made in both India and the United States, but also to recognize and honor the intellectual property rights framework that allows cinematic creativity to thrive. IPR protections allow creative talents in almost all industries to reap the rewards of their labor and also spurs and incentivizes innovation. The creative, hardworking women and men who imagine and make this fantastic content deserve the support of strong intellectual property protections.”
Rucha Pathak, Chief Creative Officer, Fox Star Studios said, “To a large extent, the new level of creativity and innovation in films and film content in India is linked to women taking risks as writers, directors, actors and producers and thereby bringing a welcome change in the landscape of Indian films over the last few years.”
Uday Singh, Managing Director, MPDA said, “India is at the forefront of creativity and economic growth. Women leaders and entrepreneurs are an integral part of this growth story. Their contribution continues to power ingenuity in various sectors including ours, across the world.”
World IP Day Film Festival at the American Center, New Delhi
Between April 27-28, MPDA in association with the American Center, New Delhi, Disney India and Fox Star Studios will host screenings of Black Panther, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Shape of Water. On April 27, the winners of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – US Embassy Anti-Piracy Film competition will be announced before the movie screening. The main objective of the competition is to promote the value of Intellectual Property Rights in North India. The jury for the competition comprised senior officials from the government and local industry, including MPDA, India.
“India and the United States both have diverse and incredibly vibrant film industries,” said Stewart Davis, North India Program Director at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, “And we are proud to work together with CII, MPDA-India and our partners across India to promote intellectual property rights. The creative workers in both countries deserve these protections and consumers must understand the very real negative implications of piracy on the cinema we all love.”
“CII has been actively engaged in various IPR awareness, training and enforcement programmes in partnership with Government and local industry stakeholders. We are happy with the positive outcome of the anti-piracy filmmaking competition and are committed to strengthen efforts towards building a vibrant IP ecosystem,” said Anjan Das, Executive Director, CII.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
