'The Time of the Court' Arrived Before 'The Time of Hunting'

Content Panda Files Lawsuit to Invalidate Overseas Screening Ban and Contract Termination
Netflix Plans to Release as Scheduled on the 10th, "Difficult to Comment"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] The film "Time to Hunt," which went straight to Netflix, is facing the risk of not being released overseas. This is because Content Panda, which handled overseas sales, has already signed sales contracts with about 30 countries. Recently, a court injunction to ban overseas screenings was filed, making it inevitable that the plan will be disrupted.

A representative from Content Panda stated on the 8th, "We are taking legal steps regarding the injunction to ban overseas screenings of 'Time to Hunt' and the invalidity of contract termination." The film was scheduled to be screened domestically on February 26 but was indefinitely postponed due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Distributor Little Big Pictures transferred the rights to Netflix, the first Korean film to do so, fearing additional burdens such as promotion and marketing costs.

However, "Time to Hunt" had already been sold to about 30 countries. Content Panda, which signed an overseas sales contract with Little Big Pictures on January 24 last year, had been performing the work for over a year and achieved results. A Content Panda representative said, "We were also about to sign contracts with an additional 70 countries." Little Big Pictures was aware of the contracts but transferred the entire rights to Netflix. Instead, in early March, they requested Content Panda to terminate the contract for Netflix sales.

Little Big Pictures could have contracted with Netflix excluding the countries where the rights had been sold, like Japan's Ghibli Studio. Netflix does not provide 21 Ghibli Studio works in the United States and Canada because HBO Max holds exclusive screening rights for Ghibli Studio works in those two countries.

Regarding the "double contract" controversy, Little Big Pictures explained, "We conducted sufficient prior negotiations and legally terminated the contract after legal review based on a contract clause allowing termination due to force majeure such as natural disasters." However, Content Panda countered, "There was only verbal notification and sending of official letters."

The court has never considered infectious diseases like COVID-19 as force majeure. Netflix plans to release "Time to Hunt" as scheduled on the 10th. A representative said, "Since we are not a party to this conflict, it is difficult to make a special statement."