CBS Blasts Sony In ‘Jeopardy!,’ ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Lawsuit
There is a huge legal battle going on between Sony and CBS Television. It surrounds the game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. In the lawsuit, Sony claims breach of contract allegations. However, CBS claims that Sony is a “bad actor” trying to get the shows for nothing.
Here is a look at the lawsuit and what CBS had to say about Sony as they head into the court case.
CBS Calls Sony ‘Bad Actors’ In Jeopardy! Lawsuit
Sony filed a lawsuit against CBS concerning the distribution of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! This is concerning a deal that is more than 40 years old. The studio has accused CBS of “self-dealing and making “unauthorized licensing deals in violation of their agreement.
Sony claims that CBS “licensed the Shows at below-market rates; has failed to maximize advertising revenue; has undercut Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune through self-preferencing; and has rendered itself incapable of administering its obligations under the agreements.”
However, CBS filed a cross-complaint against Sony, saying that the studio was acting in bad faith. They claim that their deals have netted Sony “billions of dollars of revenue.” CBS is basically saying Sony is being greedy.
“Sony is attempting to obtain in court what it could not get at the bargaining table: the rights to the Series for free, by finding any excuse it can muster,” CBS’ outside lawyers Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP said in their cross-complaint (via Deadline).
CBS Says Sony Is Turning It’s Back On Their Relationship
CBS also said in its cross-complaint that Sony was turning its back on their longstanding relationship and renounced the “decades’ worth of efforts that CBS has invested into distributing and arranging for the distribution of the Series, and to attempt and escape the bargain it willingly made.”
CBS wants to hold Sony to the agreement, writing, “CBS remains committed to continuing to occupy its mantle as Sony’s trusted partner and distributor of the Series for the next four decades and beyond.” However, CBS also seeks damages from Sony for filing the original lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Sony is more than ready to go to court for the rights to Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. CBS recently admitted that it entered unauthorized licensing deals, in plain violation of a negotiated, two-year limit for such licenses under the agreements, and then paid itself a commission on those deals,” Sony said in its filing. “These unauthorized deals are just the tip of the iceberg.”
Sony is asking for a jury trial and for CBS to award Sony Pictures damages proven at that time. “After repeated attempts to resolve this matter amicably, we are left with no choice but to take legal action today,” Sony said.
What are your thoughts on the Sony and CBS lawsuit concerning Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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