Bahrain: Director Fined for Selling Investor's Film Without Permission
A director who sold a film without his investor's sayso and took the earnings for himself has been ordered to pay BD8,000. The ruling, handed down by the High Civil Court, found that he had broken his contract by screening the film without permission and selling it to an airline, cutting the investor out of any returns.
The court held the director fully responsible and ordered him to cover legal costs as well.
Case
The case was built around a deal that, on paper, was clearcut.
Lawyer Ibtisam Al Sabbagh, speaking for the investor, said her client had signed an agreement with the second defendant, setting out the terms for producing the film.
The investor handed over BD32,000 in three cheques, and the first defendant — the director — signed off on receiving the funds the same day.
Arrangement
The arrangement was later formalised.
The contract required the director, working through his agent, to make, direct and sell the film within three months of being paid.
The plan was to offload the film before the final cut, ensuring a return of at least 120 per cent on the investment.
Sum
If that didn't happen, the director was to return every dinar and pay out an added 120 per cent, a sum that would have totalled BD38,400.
Full rights to the film, free of any conditions, were also meant to go to the investor. But things didn't go as written. After the film was completed, the director and his agent stalled on selling it, dragging the process out for more than a year and a half.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
10 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Filipino Worker Wins Dh100,000 in UAE Lottery
A Filipino expatriate working as an emergency medical technician (EMT) in the UAE has struck gold—quite literally—after winning Dh100,000 in The UAE Lottery's Lucky Chance draw. Sherwin Rafael Trinidad, who has been serving as an EMT in Ajman for the past seven years, turned a casual Google search into a life-changing moment. 'I discovered the UAE Lottery in a Google ad. I got interested, created an account, and finally, here I am now,' he shared in a video posted by the lottery organizers. Trinidad's journey to winning wasn't overnight. He urged fellow participants not to lose hope. 'I've been there before. I thought I would never win this amount,' he said. 'But just keep on playing. Don't lose hope.' Plans for the Future With the prize money, Trinidad plans to return to the Philippines to build his dream home and start a business. His vision, however, goes beyond personal gain. The selfless medic also expressed a deep desire to give back to the community, particularly to those facing health-related challenges. 'Definitely, I will build my dream house and dream business in the Philippines. I also want to help other people in need, especially those with medical needs,' he added. A Growing Trend Trinidad's story is one of many in the UAE, where residents continue to test their luck through various digital lottery platforms. His win is not just a testament to luck but also to persistence, offering hope to thousands chasing similar dreams.
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Court cancels BD150,000 payout after proof of larger returns
A Bahraini investor claiming BD150,000 in unpaid returns has lost her appeal after judges found she had already received almost BD440,000 from the late businessman at the centre of the dispute. The Higher Civil Court of Appeal in Manama set aside an earlier ruling that had instructed the heirs of the entrepreneur to hand over BD150,000. Judges accepted evidence from a court accountant showing payments totalling BD440,430 reached the claimant and her mother during the entrepreneur's life. The row began in 2013, when the claimant placed BD150,000 with the businessman under her daughter's name, seeking a steady profit stream. The businessman agreed to the arrangement. After his death, the woman demanded the sum, insisting that only BD150,000 in profit had reached her.
Daily Tribune
6 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Victory for buyers : Consumers reclaim BD290,000 over past two years through complaints system
TDT | Manama The Ministry of Industry and Commerce recovered BD290,000 for consumers over the past two years, while arranging replacements worth BD75,000, according to a written reply from Minister His Excellency Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro to MP Dr Muneer Seroor. The figures cover 2023 and 2024, during which the ministry's Consumer Protection Directorate received 7,868 complaints in the first year and 7,153 in the second. A further 1,302 complaints were registered between January and March this year. Most cases concerned faulty electrical goods and vehicle-related issues. Fakhro noted that complaints fell by roughly 9 per cent in 2024. Goods and services That year, more than BD120,000 was recovered for consumers, while goods and services worth over BD45,000 were replaced. In 2023, the recovered amount exceeded BD170,000, with replacements totalling more than BD30,000. By law, the ministry has up to 60 working days to examine a complaint. However, the directorate typically contacts both the complainant and the business within three days to assess the issue and determine the next step. Working days Resolution times vary. Most complaints are dealt with within 15 working days. Around 42 per cent are completed within one week 19 per cent within eight to fifteen days 15 per cent within sixteen to thirty days 12 per cent are resolved on the same day they are received The directorate may also refer cases to the courts when necessary. In both 2023 and 2024, 212 complaints were handed to the Public Prosecution. In 2023, six shops were shut down by administrative order. Arrangements To reduce delays, the ministry signed service level agreements with eight commercial entities that frequently attract complaints. These arrangements led to a 35 per cent reduction in average handling times for those firms. As for cases that take longer, Fakhro said the directorate follows a graduated process. Staff first attempt to broker a settlement between the parties. Failing that, the matter proceeds through formal steps: an initial letter, a notice, a final warning, and then a binding decision. If the business fails to comply, the case is referred to prosecutors.
