China Film Giant Screen
China Film Giant Screen (CFGS) is a Chinese premium large film format company. The company was previously known as DMAX, with the name also referring to the film technology. It has been described as a competitor to IMAX Corporation and its IMAX film format.[1] The company is owned by China Film Group Corporation.
History
The CFGS format was apparently developed by the China Research Institute of Film Science & Technology and the China Film Group Corporation. It was created in an attempt to challenge the IMAX film format that dominated the premium large format movie market until that point.[2] The aim was to lower costs and to allow the development of Chinese film projection technology using indigenous Chinese technology and intellectual property.[1]
The format was put into commercial use in 2012.
Lawsuit
IMAX sued CFGS and related companies for theft of intellectual property; this court action was heard on 18 June 2014.[3] IMAX alleged that Gary Tsui, a former employee that worked for IMAX from 1999-2009, stole confidential information on proprietary technology and set-up competing businesses.[4][5][6] Despite a court injunction it was noted that Gary Tsui had ignored the court orders, and his businesses had evolved into a venture known as DMAX, later to change its name to CFGS. In 2014 IMAX won a court victory in Canada upholding that Tsui had stolen the technology to build up his competing company.[7] IMAX hoped that the Canadian court victory would allow successful legal action in China.[7] As of 2015, the status of the legal action in China is uncertain.
Technical properties
Standard screen size for DMAX is 20x12 meters (for comparison IMAX is at least 22x16 meters).
See also
References
- 1 2 Coonan, Clifford (13 April 2012). "China bows own version of Imax". Variety. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ↑ Yihang (9 April 2012). "Makers of DMAX Aim to Break IMAX Monopoly". CRIENGLISH.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ↑ "IMAX Corp. v. Trotum Systems Inc., 2014 ONSC 3863 (CanLII)". Canadian Legal Information Institute. Ontario Superior Court of Justice/Canadian Legal Information Institute. 2014-07-03. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ↑ Prochilo, Dan (13 August 2013). "Imax Sues Movie Theater Tech Co. Over Trade Secrets". Law360. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ↑ Kearn, Rebekah (28 June 2013). "IMAX Says Trade Secrets Ended Up in China". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ↑ Quigley, J.T. (3 February 2014). "RoboCop 3D and the Battle over Bigger Big Screens in China". The Diplomat. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- 1 2 Kauth, Glenn (14 July 2014). "IMAX wins $7-million victory against ex-employee who stole technology". Canadian Lawyer. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
External links
- Ontario Superior Court of Justice document summarising IMAX court action against Gary Tsui
- PDF scan of United States District Court lawsuit against Gary Tsui