Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Film definition

What does Film mean? In legal practice, film means any recording from which moving images can be produced, regardless of format (digital files, animation, videotape, cinema prints or online streams). In England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland it is a category of copyright work defined by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; Ireland’s Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 adopts a broadly consistent definition. The accompanying soundtrack is treated as part of the film, though underlying music, scripts, performances and sound recordings may attract separate copyrights and neighbouring rights. Key legal features and usage: - Authors are generally the producer and principal director...

European Commission Article 101 TFEU decision: NBCUniversal fined €14.3m for vertical restraints restricting cross-border and online sales of licensed film merchandise; informal settlement; conduct 2013–2019

Published by a LexisNexis Competition expert

Practice notes

CASE HUB ARCHIVED – this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 30 January 2020; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline, commentary and related cases.

Case facts

Outline

The European Commission conducted an Article 101 TFEU inquiry into Vertical restraints affecting cross‑border sales of licensed merchandise displaying Minions, Jurassic World and other images and characters from NBCUniversal’s Films. The practices were attributed to NBCUniversal and other entities within the Comcast group (AT.40433).

Latest development

On 30 January 2020, the Commission adopted an infringement decision against NBCUniversal, imposing a €14,327,000 fine, following an ‘informal settlement’. The penalty concerned the application of vertical restrictions on cross‑border trade in licensed products featuring Minions, Jurassic World and other images and characters from NBCUniversal’s films, contrary to Article 101 TFEU.

Parties

NBCUniversal LLC (NBCUniversal), part of the Comcast group, is a US company operating cable and broadcast networks, alongside film and television production businesses worldwide. A division within NBCUniversal oversees the licensing of intellectual property rights under NBCUniversal brands for the manufacture and sale of products featuring Minions, Jurassic World, Trolls and other popular NBCUniversal films...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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