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Director Schweiger and screenwriter Decker (at the Bavarian Film Award 2009): Appropriate participation in proceeds

Photo: Eventpress / Passig / IMAGO

Screenwriter Anika Decker is entitled to a higher share of the total proceeds from Til Schweiger's box office hits »Keinohrhasen« and »Zweiohrküken«. This was decided by the Berlin Regional Court on Wednesday after years of litigation. The author has thus achieved success with her lawsuit against the production company and rights holder Barefoot Films and the media group Warner Bros. – financially, she has little of it.

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Decker at 2022 film premiere: "Should have filed a lawsuit much earlier"

Photo: APress / IMAGO

According to the ruling, a large part of their claims are time-barred. This applies to the years before 2015. According to a court spokeswoman, author Anika Decker will receive about 180,000 euros. "She should have filed a lawsuit much earlier because she knew that the films in the cinema were so successful," said presiding judge Rolf Danckwerts.

The ruling is based on the "fairness paragraph" in copyright law. It provides for an additional payment if there is a conspicuous disproportion between the originally agreed remuneration and the income generated later. From the Court's point of view, that is the case in the present case. In 2008, »Keinohrhasen« was the most successful German film in cinema. "Two-eared chicks" also attracted millions of visitors later on. Decker co-wrote the screenplays with actor and producer Til Schweiger.

The legal battle dragged on for years. Decker first demanded information about the income from the production company and the film company in a so-called step-by-step lawsuit. After that, it was about their financial claims. The judgment of the Regional Court is not yet final, but an appeal can still be lodged with the Court of Appeal.

The German Screenwriters' Association initially reacted cautiously to the decision. "The situation of creatives is not such that we can immediately assess success," said Managing Director Jan Herchenröder. It was unfortunate that, according to the ruling, Decker, as the plaintiff, had to pay for the entire court costs.

feb/AFP/dpa