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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

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Holding and Reasoning (Weigel, J.)

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