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Tony Bonner begins Skippy residuals case

Tony Bonner's case for residuals could prove a test case for others artists.

Tony Bonner’s case for residuals against the producers of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo began in the NSW Supreme Court today.

As previously reported, Bonner is seeking monies for syndication, merchandise and DVDs for the series he made in the 1960s. Somehow I suspect none of the roos got much either…

“When I signed the agreement with them for production in 1967, VHS was not even heard of, let alone DVDs or the internet,” Bonner said today.

“Intellectual property had never been heard of.”

He said he felt “enough is enough” when he saw yet another release of DVDs of the series.

Bonner has previously said, “If they’d just said ‘thank you’ to me 30 years ago, 20 years ago, 10, then that would’ve been the end of it. But they’ve never even bought me a cup of coffee.”

The matter is expected to prove a test case for others in the industry.

“It will assist other actors, writers, directors and sports people who enter contracts that their intellectual property would be protected,” Bonner said.

It returns to court on November 14.

Source: The Australian

4 Responses

  1. Who is he suing? Old Producers? Do they still even own the show?
    Contract negotiation has come a long way since 1967, he seems to be asking for some integrity from people who are known to have none. Good luck and I feel he should get money for merchandise sales for the time as well as royalties for re-runs (but he should be getting those auto anyways)
    As for DVD sales and Internet, hmmm. 1. As of today, In Aus, no one gets payed royalties for live streaming on the net, the numbers of hits a vid gets isn’t payed out as royalty.
    2. If the series was bought up by an independent years after the show was made that would have been the time to make a claim. If it is owned by another company they have no law stating they have to pay actors a share unless a contract is drawn up stating so.
    I think he will get something…not a lot though.

  2. I think the producers will put up a big fight – and they’ll be backed by other production companies and the networks who don’t want to be in a similar situation. If Bonner wins, it will set a precedent and there’ll be a rush of people wanting to claim residuals.

  3. Contracts are contracts, and if it wasn’t in what he signed, then sucks but that’s the way the ball bounces. There are plenty of modern contracts that don’t allow for that kind of residual bonus, and a show from so long ago has even less of a leg to stand on. I think there’s probably some kind of statute of limitations kind of principle the studios can invoke anyway.

  4. Don’t think he has much hope but i wish him all the best. trouble is who owns that series now? and as an actor are you ever considered for any percentage deals anyway? Writers created it and studio funded it right?

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