Zombob's Zombie News and Reviews

SAM RAIMI SUING OVER EVIL DEAD 4 PROJECT!

From Anything Horror.com:

Renaissance Pictures was formed back in 1979 by producer-director Sam Raimi, producer Robert Tapert, and actor-producer Bruce Campbell for the sole purpose of making that iconic first film. Now Renaissance Pictures is suing Award Pictures, which plans on making a fourth film in the EVIL DEAD series. But according to Raimi, this interferes with his plans on making his own sequel for Sony Pictures and FilmDistrict. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Award Pictures isn’t backing down. They’re using Raimi’s comment he made back in a 2000 that he would never do another sequel of THE EVIL DEAD as proof that the “Evil Dead” trademark was abandoned. Award Pictures now claims it is the primary trademark holder of the film title:

Renaissance says in its lawsuit that fans “have long been eager for another installment,” and Raimi finally announced last year he would co-write and co-produce a remake of the original. Shortly before the announcement, Renaissance went to the U.S. Trademark Office to register the mark.

One problem.

After Renaissance did so, an objection was filed by Award Pictures, which says it has been preparing its own Evil Dead film. The company says that Renaissance’s hold on “Evil Dead” was abandoned and thus, Award Pictures should be deemed as being a prior user.

In an effort to show abandonment, Award Pictures points to comments attributed to Tapert and Raimi in the 2000 book, The Evil Dead Companion: “Ha,” said Rob and Sam. “We’re never going to do a sequel.”

“This statement is a public declaration by the defendant that the defendant abandoned the alleged ‘mark,’ Evil Dead, decades ago,” says Award Pictures in papers to the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Okay, to be honest I could give two shits about these two companies fighting over the trademark of THE EVIL DEAD. Here’s my question pointed directly to Mr. Raimi: If you’re planning on doing a fourth installment of THE EVIL DEAD, then why the fuck are you wasting your time and money on producing this bound-to-be shitty remake of THE EVIL DEAD? It doesn’t make sense. Shit or get off the pot, Sam!!