Films by Til Schweiger
Dispute over “no ear bunnies” – screenwriter receives information about income
Anika Decker (left) and Til Schweiger at the Bavarian Film Awards ceremony in 2009, where they accepted the “Audience Award” for “Keinohrhasen”.
© Tobias Hase/ / Picture Alliance
Screenwriter Anika Decker saw too little involvement in the success of “Keinohrhasen” and “Zweiohrküken”. she complained. And now has a right to information about the earnings of the Til Schweiger films.
The screenwriter Anika Decker has a right to information about the total income from Til Schweiger’s cinema hits “Keinohrhasen” and “Zweiohrküken”. In a hearing on Wednesday before the Berlin Superior Court, the production company and the distributor of the films withdrew their appeals against an earlier judgment by the regional court, it was announced.
The judgment of 2020, which granted the screenwriter a right to information, is therefore final. In a further step, the court could now deal with the question of a higher subsequent payment for the author.
Til Schweiger films: The “fairness paragraph” allows the lawsuit
“Keinohrhasen” was the most successful German film in cinemas in 2008. “Zweiohrchicken” also attracted millions of visitors. The screenwriter demanded a subsequent share in the high income from cinema, DVD, television and the Internet.
The background to their so-called step action is the “fairness clause” in copyright law. It provides for an additional subsequent payment if the original fee and the later profits are in a noticeable disproportion. In 2020, the district court saw indications of a possible claim by the author because of the above-average success of the films. In the second step of the class action, the author now has the opportunity to demand higher payment.