Back in May news broke that a film company called "Award Pictures", had plans for "Evil Dead 4" one problem.. Sam Raimi sued Award Pictures on the basis - that the film company doesn't own the rights to The Evil Dead trademark..
But Award Pictures wasn't going to lay down. The company is using Raimi's comment in a 2000 book that he would never do a sequel as proof that the "Evil Dead" trademark was abandoned. The company now says it is the primary trademark holder of the film title.
But now from THR: “In May, Renaissance Pictures, formed in 1979 by Raimi, producer Robert Tapert and actor-producer Bruce Campbell for the purpose of making the first film, sued Award Pictures, which was in the midst of making ‘Evil Dead 4: Consequences’. The movie was alleged to be interfering with Raimi’s plan to make his own sequel for Sony Pictures and FilmDistrict. After the lawsuit was filed, Award Pictures and its president Glenn MacCrae failed to respond in court.”
[UPDATE] from THR: Reports that Award Pictures failed to respond in court and a judge ordered “a default judgment that permanently enjoins Award Pictures from using the “Evil Dead” trademark or using marketing materials that might confuse the public into believing that Award has rights to the title.”
Award Pictures claim they will appeal the decision - stating that their reason for not responding to the lawsuit was a lack of funds to hire legal representation..
“Award Pcitures said that paying lawyers wouldn’t be a problem if Renaissance hadn’t interfered wtih Evil Dead 4: Consequences. (Note Change Of Title) Until then, MacCrae’s company purportedly had a multi-million dollar financing deal with Anchor Bay, which was ‘destroyed’ by ‘fraudulent claims of ownership of the rights to The Evil Dead.
(Source: DailyDead.com)
