On Command Video Corporation v. Columbia Pictures Industries

777 F. Supp. 787 (1991)

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On Command Video Corporation v. Columbia Pictures Industries

United States District Court for the Northern District of California
777 F. Supp. 787 (1991)

  • Written by Jack Newell, JD

Facts

On Command Video Corporation (OCVC) (plaintiff) was the manufacturer of video-viewing systems installed in hotels. Columbia Pictures Industries (Columbia) made movies. The OCVC system consisted of several videocassette players, each containing a different movie. The videocassette players were connected to every hotel room via wiring. Guests were able to use a remote to select a movie on their television. This would transmit a signal to the videocassette player with the selected movie. The movie would then play on the guest’s television. Each movie could be transmitted to one room at a time. OCVC sought a declaratory judgment that the showing of the movies did not count as a public performance. Columbia maintained that the showing was a public performance.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Weigel, J.)

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