The production team of The Masters of Cinema Series went on strike Tuesday 2nd August 2011 out of desperation and in protest against the publisher Phaidon’s appropriation of the already well established The Masters of Cinema Series brand for a Phaidon series of books about great film directors, without any permission or prior consultation.
The series of books Phaidon call The Masters of Cinema Series were originally released in France as “COLLECTION GRANDS CINEASTES” (“Great Filmmaker Collection”). A textbook case of ‘passing off’, one would imagine this to be an open and shut case – except, Eureka Entertainment Ltd are now forced to launch expensive legal proceedings to protect The Masters of Cinema Series brand. We believe that Phaidon should do the right thing and acknowledge their unfortunate lack of brand awareness.
The Masters of Cinema Series originally contacted Phaidon to express astonishment at the naming of their range of books in November 2010. Richard Schlagman, the owner of Phaidon, responded that it was all “pure coincidence” and that they “do not see that there will be any room for confusion as DVD and Blu-rays cannot be confused with books”. The Masters of Cinema Series subsequently filed a formal legal complaint, which has recently been rejected by Phaidon’s lawyers.
A David and Goliath situation is now in full swing as The Masters of Cinema Series attempt to protect their identity against a much larger company (Phaidon) who have an appetite for litigation but the inability to recognise the damage a public PR firestorm will have on their reputation. The Masters of Cinema Series have taken to Twitter to mobilise their 6,500 followers in an unusual PR move which attempts to settle this unnecessary situation quickly.
The Masters of Cinema Series was founded in January 2004 by Eureka Entertainment Ltd and the MoC organisation / mastersofcinema.org / mastersofcinema.com / mastersofcinema.co.uk (est. 2001). The Masters of Cinema Series has established itself as one of the best-loved Blu-ray and DVD labels in Britain and is well known around the world, releasing over 150 films by auteur directors, in award-winning editions, each with a substantial book or booklet.
Phaidon Press is a worldwide publishing group specialising in books on the visual arts, and is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Paris, Berlin, Milan, and Tokyo. In 2009, Phaidon acquired the film magazine Cahiers du cinéma.
There is no doubt that great confusion has been sown by Phaidon’s damaging appropriation of The Masters of Cinema Series brand for their range of books (Eureka Entertainment Ltd regularly receive numerous mistaken public and trade requests about Phaidon’s books) and whether this is all “pure coincidence” or not, is irrelevant. The Masters of Cinema Series was already established over 5 years earlier and Phaidon are trading on direct association with our good name.
If you are a supporter of The Masters of Cinema Series of Blu-rays and DVDs, please let Phaidon know that you think they should acknowledge us and rename their The Masters of Cinema Series of books to avoid confusion. Thank you!