Miramax sues Quentin Tarantino over plans to auction NFTs from ‘Pulp Fiction’

Hollywood movie studio Miramax sued writer-director Quentin Tarantino over his auctioning of exclusive digital art for the film “Pulp Fiction,” arguing the filmmaker does not have the rights to sell them.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, Miramax said it sent a cease-and-desist order to Tarantino after he announced he would auction off “Pulp Fiction”-related NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, the Los Angeles Times reported. However, the filmmaker did not comply.

NFTs are unique pieces of digital art that are verified by a blockchain and purchased with cryptocurrency.

Tarantino announced earlier this month that he would auction off seven NFTs, which contain never-before-seen art from his movie, “Pulp Fiction,” along with original handwritten scripts from the film.

Miramax said it owns the rights to “Pulp Fiction” and that Tarantino’s rights were limited to the soundtrack album, live performances, remake rights and sequels, among others.

The studio is suing Tarantino over breach of contract, copyright infringement and trademark infringement, based on an agreement signed by both parties in 1993.

An attorney with Proskauer Rose LLP, which is representing Miramax, told the Los Angeles Times he was disappointed in Tarantino’s “money grab.”

“It was profoundly disappointing to learn of this deliberate, premeditated, short-term money grab by the Tarantino team to unilaterally circumvent Miramax’s rights to ‘Pulp Fiction’ though the illicit development, promotion, and distribution of NFTs,” said attorney Bart Williams.