Netherlands

[NL] Contract Concerning the Transmission of Children's Series

IRIS 2000-9:1/23

Inger Weidema

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

L. Hartog van Banda and M. Appelboom have been involved, as a writer and as a producer, respectively, in the making of two very popular children's series, Tita Tovenaar and De Berenboot (I and II). The series were broadcast on Dutch television in the seventies and eighties. Hartog van Banda holds the copyright in video and sound recordings that have been made of the series. Over the years the relationship between the two men deteriorated. Hartog van Banda now wants to enter into an agreement with Bridge BV and Kindernet (Bridge Limited Corporation and Children's Channel) to again broadcast the children's series on Dutch television, but he needs Appelboom's permission. Appelboom refuses to give his consent so the other parties cannot reach an agreement. Therefore, Hartog van Banda has asked the District Court of the Hague to order Appelboom to cooperate in reaching an agreement with Bridge BV and with Kindernet. According to the president of the court, Appelboom cannot reasonably be compelled to give his unconditional permission, especially since it seems that there has not yet been any deliberation about the content of the agreement between Hartog van Banda and Bridge BV and Kindernet. However, the President decided that Appelboom must participate in negotiations about a possible agreement.