Phase 4 Films, Inc.
TypeSubsidiary of Entertainment One
IndustryFilm
Animation
Predecessor
  • Peace Arch Home Entertainment
  • Telegenic
Founded1996 (1996)
FounderBerry Meyerowitz
Defunct2016 (2016)
FateDefunct
Successor
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Area served
North America
Key people
Berry Meyerowitz
(President & CEO)
Services
ParentEntertainment One
SubsidiariesKaBoom! Entertainment Inc.

Phase 4 Films was a Canadian film distribution company headquartered in Toronto. It had two branches in the United States: Los Angeles, California and Fort Mill, South Carolina. Its subsidiary kaboom! Entertainment markets children's entertainment.

History

Phase 4 Films traces its history to Telegenic, a family-oriented film distributor that was founded in 1996. Berry Meyerowitz purchased Telegenic in 2000 and renamed it Kaboom! Entertainment. In 2006, Peace Arch Entertainment Group, which later merged with ContentFilm, purchased Kaboom!. Berry Meyerowtiz founded Phase 4 Films in April 2009 when he bought back their North American distribution business.[1]

In 2011, Phase 4 announced a new Canadian television venture alongside Take 5 Development.[2] In 2012, they partnered with Kevin Smith's SModcast Pictures to distribute those films in the United States and Canada.[3] Phase 4 acquired ESI Distribution in 2014 and signed distribution deals with The Criterion Collection and Shout! Factory.[4] On June 2, 2014, Phase 4 Films was acquired by Entertainment One.[5]

Trademark infringement lawsuit

In 2013, Phase 4 picked up the Canadian animated feature The Legend of Sarila for distribution in the United States, renaming the film Frozen Land and then releasing it with a similar logo and disc box art to that of Disney's Frozen. In late December 2013, Disney filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Phase 4 in California federal court, seeking an injunction against the continued distribution of Frozen Land in the United States.[6][7] Disney alleged that less than three weeks prior to the release of its animated feature film Frozen, Phase 4 Films theatrically released The Legend of Sarila, which garnered "minimal box office revenues and received no significant attention."

To trade off the success of Disney's animated film and "[t]o enhance the commercial success of Sarila, the defendant redesigned the artwork, packaging, logo, and other promotional materials for its newly (and intentionally misleadingly) retitled film to mimic those used by [Disney] for Frozen and related merchandise."[8] While film titles cannot be trademarked by law, Disney cited a number of alleged similarities between the new Phase 4's Frozen Land logo and Disney's original one.[9][10]

By late January 2014, the two companies had settled the case; the settlement stated that the distribution and promotion of The Legend of Sarila and related merchandise must use its original title and Phase 4 must not use trademarks, logos or other designs confusingly similar to Disney's animated release.[10][11][12] Phase 4 was also required to pay Disney $100,000 before 27 January 2014, and make "all practicable efforts" to remove copies of Frozen Land from stores and online distributors before 3 March 2014.[10][11]

Filmography

YearMovieUSCanada
2015American MilkshakeDVDDVD
2015DarkroomDVDDVD
2015Miss MeadowsDVDDVD
2015Not Human__DVD
2014Alien UprisingDVD/Blu-rayDVD/Blu-ray
2014Butcher Boys (2012 film)DVDDVD
2014Some Girl(s)DVDDVD
2014Legacy of Rage__DVD
2015A Country ChristmasDVDDVD
2014A Merry Friggin' Christmasall mediaall media
2014Saturday Morning Massacre__DVD
2014SwitchmasDVDDVD
2014Brazilian Western__DVD/Blu-ray
2014Fort Bliss__DVD
2014Black Rock__DVD
2014Palo Altoall mediaDVD
2014Come Morningvideo-on-demandvideo-on-demand
2014Jamesy Boyall mediaall media
2014Agent F.O.X.all mediaall media
2014 The Culture High all mediaall media
2014 Bucksville all mediaall media
2013 Otto the Rhino DVD DVD
2013 The Jungle Book: Return 2 The Jungle DVD DVD
2013 The Jungle Book DVD DVD
2013I Declare War__all media
2013The Crash Reelall mediaall media
2013 The DirtiesDVDItunes and website
2013The Black Dahlia Hauntingvideo-on-demandall media
2013Assault on Wall StreetDirect-to-DVDDirect-to-DVD
2013EdenTheatrical__
2013An Easter Bunny PuppyDVD__
2013A Talking Cat!?!DVD__
2013 Caroline and Jackie all media all media
2012A Christmas PuppyDVD__
2012Extracted[13]all mediaall media
2012Backwards__all media
2012My Awkward Sexual Adventure__all media
2012Heathens and Thievesall mediaall media
2012Alter Egos__theatrical
2012Sushi Girltheatricalall media
2012Parasitic__DVD
2012SmittyDVD/TVDVD/TV
2012See Girl Run__TV
2012Electrick Childrentheatricaltheatrical
2012That's What She Said__theatrical
2012Barrio Talesall media__
2012 Tetherball all media __
2012A Good Funeralall media__
2012Bindlestiffs[14]__theatrical
2012House HuntingDVD__
2012A Little Bit of Faithall media__
2012Ivan the IncredibleDVD__
2011The Voyages of Young Doctor DolittleDVD__
2011In the Name of the King: Two Worlds__DVD/Blu-ray
2011Chick Magnetall mediaall media
2011Blubberella__all media
2011Horrid Henry: The Movie__all media
2011Flesh Woundsall mediaall media
2011Hopelessly in June__all media
2011Mayor Cupcakeall mediaall media
2011Luckytheatrical__
2011Rid of Me__theatrical
2011The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracyall media__
2011Knockouttheatrical__
2011AbsentiaDVD__
2011Another Happy Daytheatrical__
2011Red State__all media
2011Budz HouseDVDDVD
2011Doggie Btheatrical__
2011Kiss the Brideall mediaall media
2011Open Gateall media__
2011Contract Killers__DVD
2011Kill Katie Maloneall media__
2011Sweet Karma__DVD
2011Dear Lemon Limatheatrical__
2011Stories USADVDDVD
2011Lost Colony: The Legend of RoanokeDVD__
2011The Wild Soccer Bunch 2DVD__
2011Grizzly ParkDVD__
2011Freddy FrogfaceDVDDVD
2010Looking for JackieDVD__
2010God Send Me a Manall media__
2010Veronika Decides to Dievideo__
2010The TombDVD__
2010Crushall media__
2010DeadlandDVD__
2010KikkerdrilDVD__
2010Ultimate HeistDVD__
2010Finding Blisstheatrical__
2010The Killing Room__DVD
2010Bloodrayne: The Third Reichall mediaall media
2010Caged AnimalDVD__
2010Terror Trapall mediaall media
2010Hanna's Goldall media__
2010Love & Distrustall mediaall media
2010Supreme Championall mediaall media
2010Nic & Tristan Go Mega Degaall mediaall media
2010Road KillDVD__
2010The Dead Undeadall media__
2010Enemies Among Usall mediaall media
2010Harm's WayDVD__
2010Vidal Sassoon: The Movieall media__
2010The Final StormDVD__
2010What Would Jesus Do?all mediaall media
2010Good Intentionsvideo__
2010Freestyletheatrical__
2010Order of ChaosDVD__
2010Let God Be the Judgeall media__
2010Machete Joeall mediaall media
2010The Freebietheatrical__
2010Dronesall mediaall media
2010American Maniacsvideo__
2010Gnomes and Trolls: The Forest Trialall mediaall media
2010Journey to Prometheaall mediaall media
2010Nexusall mediaall media
2010Perfect Lifevideo__
2010Scarall mediaall media
2010Wushu Warriorall mediaall media
2010Cornered!__DVD
2010Attack on Darfurtheatrical/DVD__
2010Don't You Forget About MeDVD__
2010Dead Man Runningall mediaall media
2010Brotherhoodall mediaDVD
2010Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebelall mediaDVD
2010Forget Me Notall mediaall media
2010The Nutcrackersall media__
2010RampageDVDDVD
2010Outrage: Born in Terrortheatrical__
2010I Do & I Don'tDVD__
2010Bob and MargaretDVD__
2010Among Dead Menall mediaall media
2010Adventures of Powerall media__
2009The No Sit Listall media__
2009Luke and Lucy: The Texas Rangersall mediaall media
2009Poker Runall media__
2009Booky's Crushall mediaall media
2009Adoptedall mediaall media
2009All American Orgyall mediaall media
2009Red Hookall mediaall media
2009Fifty Dead Men Walkingall media__
2009RiggedDVD__
2009Baby BluesDVD__
2009FlingDVDDVD
2009JCVD__DVD
2009Paraiso TraveltheatricalDVD
2009Rock the Paint__DVD
2009Familiar StrangersDVD__
2008Disco WormsDVD__
2008A Christmas Proposalall mediaall media
2008Christmas Townall mediaall media
2008At Jesus' Sideall mediaall media
2008The Coverupall mediaall media
2008Goat Storyall mediaall media
2008The Missing Lynxtheatrical__
2008XIII: The Conspiracy____
2008The Poker Houseall mediaall media
2008House of Fallenall mediaall media
2008Garrisonall mediaall media
2008Gunsall mediaall media
2008Sticks and Stonesall mediaall media
2007Booky & the Secret Santaall media__
2007Where Is Winky's Horse?all mediaall media
2007Hack!DVD__
2007Ten Inch Heroall mediaall media
2007The Big SliceDVD__
2006A CrimeDVD__
2006Guilty Heartsall mediaall media
2005Buckaroo: The Movieall mediaall media
2005Wheelmenall mediaall media
2003The Wild Soccer Bunchall mediaall media
2001The Last Brickmaker in Americaall mediaall media

References

  1. ↑ Goldstein, Gary (July 16, 2011). "Distrib exec's latest Phase borders on rebirth". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  2. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (September 5, 2011). "Take 5 Productions and Phase 4 Films Launch New TV Venture, Take 5 Development". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  3. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 23, 2012). "Phase 4, Kevin Smith partner". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (January 27, 2014). "Phase 4 acquires ESI". Screen Daily. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ "eOne acquires Phase 4 Films". Deadline Hollywood. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  6. ↑ Koch, Dave (December 28, 2013). "Disney Acts To Freeze Out Competition". Big Cartoon News. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ Amidi, Amid (29 December 2013). "Disney Files Trademark Lawsuit Over "Frozen Land"". Cartoon Brew. Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Gardner, Eriq (24 December 2013). "Disney Files Trademark Lawsuit Over 'Frozen Land' Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Koch, Dave (28 December 2013). "Disney Acts To Freeze Out Competition". Big Cartoon News. Big Cartoon DataBase. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Burgin, Jack (18 January 2014). "Walt Disney Settles Trademark Lawsuit over "Frozen"". WDW Info. Werner Technologies, LLC. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  11. 1 2 Gardner, Eriq (22 January 2014). "Disney Lawsuit Ices 'Frozen Land' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (27 January 2014). "Phase 4 Films settles Frozen Land lawsuit with Disney". Playback. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Kit, Borys (May 5, 2012). "Sci-Fi Thriller 'Extracted' to be Distributed by Phase 4 Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  14. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (March 9, 2012). "Phase 4 Films snags rights to 'Bindlestiffs'". Variety. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
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