Screenwriter Anita Decker is entitled to more money

After a years-long legal dispute between screenwriter Anita Decker and Til Schweiger’s production company Barefoot Films and the media group Warner Bros., the Berlin regional court made a judgment on Wednesday (September 27th). Accordingly, Decker is entitled to more money for her work on “Keinohrhase” (2008) and “Zweiohrküken” (2009).

The lawsuit and the judgment refer to the “fairness paragraph” of copyright law. This states that additional payments must be made if the success of a film is disproportionate to the originally agreed fees. Both films directed by Til Schweiger attracted millions of viewers to the cinemas, with “Keinohrhase” being one of the most successful German films ever.

However, Decker doesn’t have much to gain from the verdict. She is only entitled to around 180,000 euros in back payments, as the majority of the claims expired after 2015. “She should have filed a lawsuit much earlier because she knew that the films were so successful in the cinema,” said the presiding judge. In addition, as the plaintiff, according to the judgment, she bears the costs of the proceedings.

As long as the verdict is not yet final, the production company can still appeal to a district court.