Film Distributors Ease VPF Burden

Sony Korea and Bugwa Termination Sign Joint Agreement on Mutual Cooperation

Domestic distributors have been relieved from the burden of the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) for digital projectors.

The Korean Film Council facilitated negotiations between domestic distributors and Sony Korea, the entity imposing the VPF, leading to the termination of VPF charges and promoting mutual cooperation, the council announced on the 9th. On the same day, a joint agreement was signed at the Film Education Support Center to complete the fee imposition by February 12 of next year.

The VPF is a digital projector usage fee that distributors and producers have borne since 2008, when film projectors in cinemas were replaced by digital projectors. As digital cinema projection technology became widespread, complaints about its unfairness have been consistently raised. The Korean Film Council acted as a mediator over a long period to narrow the differences in opinions. Chairman Kim Young-jin stated, "We will continue to actively communicate to improve unfair practices."