United International Pictures Movies Suspended from Philippine Screens

A local court has stopped the distribution of United International Pictures films in the Philippines after it allegedly violated an agreement with Solar Entertainment Corp., its local partner in the release of the movies. Solar claimed that UIP violated its 2012 agreement when it named Columbia Pictures as its new film distributor in the Philippines. [hit the jump to continue]

“Please be advised that there is an ongoing injunction case concerning the distribution of United International Pictures (“UIP”) films in the Philippines. As a matter of fact, the pertinent trial court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) enjoining UIP from violating its existing distribution agreement with us, thereby maintaining the status of our Company as the exclusive local distributor of UIP films,” according to a statement issued by Solar Wednesday.

It said that UIP was also prevented from:

A. Entering into any film distribution agreement with any other entity within the Philippines, or, if any such agreement has already been executed, from executing the provisions thereof; and

B. Engaging in mass media activities, specifically, distributing, marketing, promoting and showing of UIP films within the Philippines, which could violate the 2012 Agreement between UIP and our Company.

The Makati regional trial court issued the TRO last March 7.
The TRO will in effect temporarily put on hold release plans for Universal and Paramount films in the country.
[above news report source Inquirer.net]

Because of these developments, this would definitely affect the release of the upcoming Biblically-based epic "Noah" and the widely-anticipated "Transformers Age of Extinction". Other movies yet-to-be-released in the Philippines that are under Paramount Pictures include the Oscar-nominated "Nebraska" and "Labor Day". There has been no promised date, as of the moment,if and when these movies will get to be released. But many of us would probably have to wait.