HFPA Case Against Dick Clark Productions Going to Trial

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the case over the Golden Globe Awards will proceed

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's lawsuit against Dick Clark Productions will go to trial this month, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

The HFPA, which puts on the Golden Globe Awards, sued DCP last November, claiming that the production company — the longtime producer of the Golden Globes — improperly negotiated a new contract with NBC to air the awards.

A contract between the HFPA and Dick Clark Productions expires after the 2011 telecast. But Dick Clark Productions signed a new contract with NBC to air the Globes for seven more years. Dick Clark Productions contends that because of the NBC deal, the conract with HFPA is automatically renewed.

The NBC deal would give the two companies an average of $21.5 million for every awards show. The money would be split after overhead costs are removed.

Dick Clark Productions and the HFPA have been in business since 1983, but HFPA officials believe that the production company is being over-compensated for its role in the Golden Globes broadcast.

In a written statement Tuesday, HFPA President Aida Takla-O'Reilly said, "We look forward to proceeding to trial and vindicating our rights."

Dick Clark Productions issued a statement saying, "We're looking forward to addressing the remaining factual issues. We firmly believe our position will be vindicated as we were within our contract rights to make the NB deal. The HFPA knows this all too well and is simply trying to rewrite the contract through litigation."

Comments