Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Academy Sues Over Sold Oscar

Recently, the Academy Award that Robert Surees received for cinematography for "The Bad and the Beautiful" sold on ebay for $40,500. The Academy has filed a lawsuit in which they ask for both the proceeds and the Oscar. Apparently the Academy has the right to buy back any unwanted Oscars for the bargain basement price of $10. Do you think people should be able to auction off their Oscars?
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34 comments:

  1. Brenda LDecember 17, 2014 at 6:33 AM

    Once you give something to someone, it becomes theirs. So yes, they should be able to auction off an Oscar if they want to.

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  2. ethorneDecember 17, 2014 at 6:33 AM

    Oscar ain't a ho! Not just any Schmo should have one. Lohag would have her mantle full and that should never happen.

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  3. cheesegrater15December 17, 2014 at 6:34 AM

    Uh, yeah. It's an award given to them, not loaned to them. Do the nominees sign an agreement stating if they do win, then they cannot sell their awards? This is such bullshit.

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  4. the charmed oneDecember 17, 2014 at 6:37 AM

    Yes, coz it's theirs already. It's not like they say "oh hey, here's your award, but that's still ours, hence you're only technically borrowing it". Unless there is like a fine print at the bottom of the Oscar trophy or an attached noted with terms and conditions saying otherwise.

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    1. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 6:55 AM

      Actually 'the charmed one',(great name btw), I think they do sign or verbally agree to something regarding literally protecting the Integrity of the Oscar Statuette-i'll check w/my friend but has to be later cuz she's on west coast time.
      On Other note, why would the Academy KEEP THE PROCEEDS & THE STATUE--they should have to refund the innocent purchaser's money if they take their recently purchased statue-right? talk about greedy,wrong & double-dipping!?!

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    2. SherryDecember 17, 2014 at 7:30 AM

      Total agree on that one Rolo. Why should they keep the money?

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  5. LottaColadaDecember 17, 2014 at 6:41 AM

    What happens if one gets "lost" by the actor? Do they get a new one?

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    1. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 8:01 AM

      yup...or if it breaks by no fault of their own...(yeah, right..-i'm feeling Richard Gere Antics here)- they can always claim it was the earthquake,right???

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    2. Jason Blue EyesDecember 17, 2014 at 1:42 PM

      Yes - they get replaced if lost or damaged - ala Francis Coppola chucking his Oscars out the window in 1976.

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  6. JeannieDecember 17, 2014 at 6:44 AM

    I think they actually do sign a contract stating they cannot sell the Oscar. I believe many years ago they were allowed to and at some point the academy banned it. From the aced my award website's regulations section: "Academy Award winners have no rights whatsoever in the Academy copyright or goodwill in the Oscar statuette or in its trademark and service mark registrations. Award winners must comply with these rules and regulations. Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1.00. This provision shall apply also to the heirs and assigns of Academy Award winners who may acquire a statuette by gift or bequest."

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    1. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 7:02 AM

      oh maaan Jeannie, I just wrote above as a reply never looking that you'd already done so & quite impressively, I might add-sorry- to repeat kinda 10 minutes later what you'd already stated- I tend to reply before reading the rest of the comments-a new bad habit-one that I used to get ticked off at others for always doing--- derphead am I !!1 thanks for the info!! : )

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    2. SherryDecember 17, 2014 at 7:33 AM

      Rolo a lot of times people are posting at the same time or the post delay. No worries about the dups. It's nice to have everyone contributing.

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    3. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 7:51 AM

      thanks Sherry- ever since I've come to this site, I've screwed that up because I'm still programmed for the the old simple chronological format of days & sites past... ; 0

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  7. ethorneDecember 17, 2014 at 6:44 AM

    They do sign a contract. But I thought the Academy's agreement is they can buy it for $1, not $10.

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  8. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 6:47 AM

    Hey Y'all---- this just in: CUBA Just released American Aid Worker Alan Gross !!!
    I just thought we could use some GOOD NEWS from Abroad because it's been a tough week...(I'm also an old resident of Newtown,CT.- My other Half Born & raised there & the Parents still there- -small town-tough week--this is the beginning of Good News! thanks cuba.

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    1. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 7:07 AM

      ...just cuz I've been shellshocked by Pakistan atrocity &Sydney normally the good times city-- Good Time to get Alan gross Back-ok off my soapbox.

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  9. auntliddyDecember 17, 2014 at 7:18 AM

    Glad to hear some good world news. Its been a complete cesspool lately.
    Re kerping money schmuck paid for award- i tjink yhey want to send message to any potential buyers- dont do it! Other than that, cmon, get over yourself academy, its a goldplated statue, not the 10 commandments.

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  10. Now!December 17, 2014 at 7:34 AM

    Show business has a lot of ups and downs. I'm sure for many in the business it's the last thing they sell when they have nothing else left. I think it's kind of cruel not to let them do so.

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  11. Now!December 17, 2014 at 7:35 AM

    Besides, Oscar selling has been going on for a long time. Michael Jackson had David O. Selznick's Oscar for 'Gone With the Wind'. He travelled around with it in a little suitcase, according to his bodyguards.

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  12. SherryDecember 17, 2014 at 7:37 AM

    I can understand why they want to protect the image of this award. Hollywood being self important aside, think about other awards that actually surpass it. Pulitzer, Noble Peace, Purple Heart, Medal of Feedom and I'll need our international posters to help with others. Yup, Oscar still ranks up there albeit for nothing really noble.

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    1. rolotomassiDecember 17, 2014 at 7:57 AM

      Girl Scout Brownie Journey Award Patch---- I was never either, damn them.....

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    2. TigercatDecember 17, 2014 at 12:04 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. TigercatDecember 17, 2014 at 12:18 PM

      The Stanley Cup 😉

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  13. UnknownDecember 17, 2014 at 9:04 AM

    I think the academy is being stupid. This type of hype actually increases the prestige of the actual award. What they should be worrying about is the day a significant oscar goes to auction and doesn't get any interest.

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  14. Seven of ElevenDecember 17, 2014 at 10:28 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. Seven of ElevenDecember 17, 2014 at 10:28 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. Seven of ElevenDecember 17, 2014 at 10:29 AM

    They do sign a waiver that says the Academy gets first rights for $1 if the recipient is to sell the Oscars.

    Fun trivia fact: Steven Spielberg bout both Clark Gable's and Bette Davis's Oscars at auction and donated them to the Academy.

    Second fun fact: Each Oscar has to be perfect - if it's not, it's melted down and redone.

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  17. UnknownDecember 17, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    Yes Cuba is now going to be welcomed back into the fold. Embargo lifting.

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  18. FrostyDecember 17, 2014 at 12:47 PM

    Surtees died in '85. If he did sign an agreement back then, would that also extend to his family? I wouldn't think so. If there is an agreement signed perhaps Oscars have to be returned after the death of the recipient. This must be a fairly new thing, I seem to recall seeing Oscars for sale (or in hock) way back when...

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    1. SherryDecember 17, 2014 at 3:33 PM

      Yes it would according to the intel Jeannie brought where it states:

      "Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1.00. This provision shall apply also to the heirs and assigns of Academy Award winners who may acquire a statuette by gift or bequest."

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  19. auntliddyDecember 17, 2014 at 3:19 PM

    Dont sign the agreement. You still won, dont hv to show oscar to anyone to prove it.

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