Tiger Pictures v Encore Films: Copyright Infringement & Exclusive Licensing Dispute

In Tiger Pictures Entertainment Ltd v Encore Films Pte Ltd, the High Court of Singapore addressed a copyright infringement claim concerning the film 'Moon Man'. Tiger Pictures, the claimant, alleged that Encore Films, the defendant, infringed its copyright. The court dismissed Encore Films' application to strike out the claim, holding that Tiger Pictures had the standing to sue as an exclusive licensee under the Copyright Act 2021. The court reasoned that the sub-licence granted by Tiger Pictures to HK Tiger did not negate Tiger Pictures' status as the statutory exclusive licensee.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Defendant's striking out application dismissed.

1.3 Case Type

Intellectual Property

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Copyright infringement claim over 'Moon Man' film. Court held Tiger Pictures had standing to sue as exclusive licensee, dismissing Encore Films' application.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Tiger Pictures Entertainment LtdClaimantCorporationApplication to strike out claim dismissedWon
Encore Films Pte LtdDefendantCorporationStriking out application dismissedLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Dedar Singh GillJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Toh Jia YiAllen & Gledhill LLP
Lee Junting BasilLee & Lee
Tan Tee JimLee & Lee

4. Facts

  1. Tiger Pictures Entertainment Ltd is engaged in the business of selling and distributing films.
  2. Encore Films Pte Ltd distributes films in Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia.
  3. Kaixin Mahua is the owner of the copyright in the film “Moon Man”.
  4. Kaixin entered into a licence agreement with Tiger Pictures on 19 August 2022.
  5. The licence agreement granted Tiger Pictures exclusive rights to “Moon Man” worldwide except for China and Korea.
  6. Tiger Pictures granted an exclusive licence to HK Tiger on 20 August 2022.
  7. Encore Films allegedly infringed the copyright in “Moon Man” from 15 September 2022 to 26 October 2022.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Tiger Pictures Entertainment Ltd v Encore Films Pte Ltd, Originating Claim No 466 of 2022 (Summons No 2172 of 2023), [2023] SGHC 255
  2. Tiger Pictures Entertainment Ltd v Encore Films Pte Ltd, , [2023] SGHC 138

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Kaixin entered into a licence agreement with the claimant.
Claimant granted an exclusive licence to its related entity in Hong Kong.
Alleged copyright infringement began.
Alleged copyright infringement ended.
Statement of Claim dated.
Defence and Counterclaim dated.
Summons 926 filed.
Summons 926 dismissed.
Claimant filed Summons 2171.
Defendant filed Summons 2172.
Claimant's written submissions dated.
Defendant's written submissions dated.
Hearing date.
Hearing date.
Judgment date.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Standing to Sue for Copyright Infringement
    • Outcome: The court held that the claimant had standing to sue for copyright infringement as a statutory exclusive licensee.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Exclusive License
      • Statutory Exclusive License
      • Sub-licensing
    • Related Cases:
      • [2007] 2 SLR(R) 869

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Damages for Copyright Infringement

9. Cause of Actions

  • Copyright Infringement

10. Practice Areas

  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Copyright Litigation

11. Industries

  • Entertainment
  • Film Distribution

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Dendron GmbH v Regents of the University of CaliforniaHigh Court of England and WalesYes[2004] FSR 43England and WalesCited by the defendant to argue that the claimant's position as the exclusive licensee was supplanted by HK Tiger.
Tiger Pictures Entertainment Ltd v Encore Films Pte LtdHigh CourtYes[2023] SGHC 138SingaporeCited for the background facts of the case and the claimant's allegations of copyright infringement.
Iskandar bin Rahmat and others v Attorney-General and anotherCourt of AppealYes[2022] 2 SLR 1018SingaporeCited for the test for striking out a claim under O 9 r 16(1) of the ROC.
Gabriel Peter & Partners (suing as a firm) v Wee Chong Jin and othersN/AYes[1997] 3 SLR(R) 649SingaporeCited for the test of whether the action has some chance of success when only the allegations in the pleadings are concerned.
The Bunga Melati 5High CourtYes[2012] 4 SLR 546SingaporeCited for the court’s inherent jurisdiction to prevent injustice, such as where the claim is plainly or obviously unsustainable.
Alliance Entertainment Singapore Pte Ltd v Sim Kay Teck and anotherHigh CourtYes[2007] 2 SLR(R) 869SingaporeCited for the principle that if the plaintiff was not an exclusive licensee within the meaning of the Copyright Act, the action should be struck out.
Kinekor Films (Pty) Ltd v Movie TimeN/AYes[1976] 1 SA 649South AfricaCited for the principle that a licence granted by a prior licensee rather than by the copyright owner was not an exclusive licence within the meaning of the equivalent South African statutory provision, but only a contractual licensee.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
Rules of Court 2021 O 9 r 16
Supreme Court of Judicature (Intellectual Property) Rules 2022

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Copyright Act 2021Singapore
Copyright Act 2021 s 153(1)Singapore
Copyright Act 2021 s 103(1)Singapore
Copyright Act 2021 s 103(2)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Exclusive License
  • Copyright Infringement
  • Locus Standi
  • Statutory Exclusive License
  • Sub-license
  • Moon Man

15.2 Keywords

  • Copyright
  • Infringement
  • Exclusive License
  • Moon Man
  • Singapore
  • Tiger Pictures
  • Encore Films

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Copyrights95
Intellectual Property Law90
Licensing85
Standing to Sue75
Breach of Contract30
Contract Law30
Civil Litigation20
Jurisdiction15

16. Subjects

  • Copyright
  • Intellectual Property
  • Licensing