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Ultraman Film Opens in China Without Japanese Rights Holder's Approval
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
A Chinese production company based in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province produced a movie featuring the Japanese character Ultraman. Ultraman production company Tsuburaya Productions has claimed the film is a violation of copyright, but it opened in China on October 1. The film is titled Dragon Force: So Long, Ultraman, and it casts Ultraman as a enemy that fights against a Chinese robot hero.
In a press release from July, Tsuburaya Productions claimed that it had not granted permission to the Chinese production company to use the character, and the movie was made without Tsuburaya Productions' knowledge or supervision. The company seeks to halt screenings of the film, and is planning legal action.
The Chinese production company, BlueArc, claims that they acquired the license to use the character from a Thai company that supposedly holds the overseas rights for Ultraman. The company claims that China's Supreme Court has deemed the company's use of the character legal.
BlueArc's website describes the film as "part one."
The latest show in the long-running Ultraman Series is Ultraman Geed, which premiered in Japan on July 8. Crunchyroll is streaming the series as it airs in Japan.
Source: NHK News Web via Yaraon!
