CleanFlicks is a business located in Utah which was in the business of making, selling and renting clean edited versions of films. The editing of the movies was to get rid of scenes or content that was considered not appropriate for minors or audiences that could find the material objectionable. Mormons, or members of the LDS church, were a key market for CleanFlicks due to the religious beliefs of its founder and the location of many of its outlets.
Why CleanFlicks?
Many Mormons find R-rated movies, and some PG-13 movies to be offensive and for some not consistent with the religious teachings of the LDS church. However, many consider edited copies to be good ways to receive the positive messages embedded in many of the stories, without subjecting themselves or their families to those parts of the movie they find offensive.
CleanFlicks Popularity
CleanFlicks edited movies were incredibly popular in Mormon culture in Utah. They removed sexual content, graphic violence, and even profanity. Edits were done by muting offensive audio or even clipping scenes from the directors’ cut of the movie.
In early 2007 CleanFlicks reopened its online presence with the tag line of ‘Movies You Can Trust.’
CleanFlicks Legal Problems
While the 2006 judgment against them and their competitors in the clean edited films market legally enjoined them from selling or renting edited movies. They decided to restart their business but instead of offering edited movies, they would review and approve some thousand plus movies and declare them safe and fit for family friendly viewing and audiences sensitive to otherwise objectionable content.
In July of 2006 a US federal district judge in Colorado who was ruling over the suit between CleanFlicks and 16 Hollywood directors decreed that the companies movie editing process was in violation of United States copyright laws.
The court order required the company to stop “producing, manufacturing, creating, and renting” edited movies. In addition, the company was obligated to turn over all of their inventory to the movie studios after the ruling.
While CleanFlicks briefly considered an appeal of the ruling, they decided wind down their inventory and stop renting or selling edited DVDs, and close their doors to avoid the expense of a protracted legal battle in appeal, and protect its shareholders from further losses.
The board agreed to forgo appealing the ruling because of decision not to appeal the ruling became primarily a financial one. Having won the initial court battle, the directors and studios were in a position to collect significant damages for copyright infringement from the editing companies.
In spite of the fact that the companies involved in the suit were situated to receive a stay of judgment pending an appeal, they decided not to pursue the appeal.
Because their edited DVD and edited movie inventory was worthless to the plaintiffs, a settlement deal was offered to the company which would permit the company to sell off their inventory and retain the revenue derived from their sale, if no appeal was filed and in return the studios and directors would not pursue claims for damages.
This settlement enabled the companies and their principals the ability to wind down their operations, collect some more money, and be protected from damage claims.
For Hollywood’s part they had won a major court ruling with would be allowed to stand without appeal and a legal precedent was established.
CleanFlicks accepted the offer along with the other companies in the edited DVD business. The companies were allowed time to clear out their inventory but were not allowed to continue creating DVDs. No more films could be edited.
CleanFlicks discontinued selling edited movies at the end of the summer of 2006.
CleanFlicks Today
Now, CleanFlicks supplies DVD releases of unedited movies under the model of reviewing and rating movies. Their slogan is “ONLY Movies You Can Trust”. They claim that their movies will not contain any “nudity, no graphic violence, and no sexual content.”
The company has no announced plans to return to the business of supplying edited movies at this time.
Clean Flicks
CleanFlicks is a business located in Utah which was in the business of making, selling and renting clean edited versions of films. The editing of the movies was to get rid of scenes or content that was considered not appropriate for minors or audiences that could find the material objectionable. Mormons, or members of the LDS church, were a key market for CleanFlicks due to the religious beliefs of its founder and the location of many of its outlets.
Why CleanFlicks?
Many Mormons find R-rated movies, and some PG-13 movies to be offensive and for some not consistent with the religious teachings of the LDS church. However, many consider edited copies to be good ways to receive the positive messages embedded in many of the stories, without subjecting themselves or their families to those parts of the movie they find offensive.
CleanFlicks Popularity
CleanFlicks edited movies were incredibly popular in Mormon culture in Utah. They removed sexual content, graphic violence, and even profanity. Edits were done by muting offensive audio or even clipping scenes from the directors’ cut of the movie.
In early 2007 CleanFlicks reopened its online presence with the tag line of ‘Movies You Can Trust.’
CleanFlicks Legal Problems
While the 2006 judgment against them and their competitors in the clean edited films market legally enjoined them from selling or renting edited movies. They decided to restart their business but instead of offering edited movies, they would review and approve some thousand plus movies and declare them safe and fit for family friendly viewing and audiences sensitive to otherwise objectionable content.
In July of 2006 a US federal district judge in Colorado who was ruling over the suit between CleanFlicks and 16 Hollywood directors decreed that the companies movie editing process was in violation of United States copyright laws.
The court order required the company to stop “producing, manufacturing, creating, and renting” edited movies. In addition, the company was obligated to turn over all of their inventory to the movie studios after the ruling.
While CleanFlicks briefly considered an appeal of the ruling, they decided wind down their inventory and stop renting or selling edited DVDs, and close their doors to avoid the expense of a protracted legal battle in appeal, and protect its shareholders from further losses.
The board agreed to forgo appealing the ruling because of decision not to appeal the ruling became primarily a financial one. Having won the initial court battle, the directors and studios were in a position to collect significant damages for copyright infringement from the editing companies.
In spite of the fact that the companies involved in the suit were situated to receive a stay of judgment pending an appeal, they decided not to pursue the appeal.
Because their edited DVD and edited movie inventory was worthless to the plaintiffs, a settlement deal was offered to the company which would permit the company to sell off their inventory and retain the revenue derived from their sale, if no appeal was filed and in return the studios and directors would not pursue claims for damages.
This settlement enabled the companies and their principals the ability to wind down their operations, collect some more money, and be protected from damage claims.
For Hollywood’s part they had won a major court ruling with would be allowed to stand without appeal and a legal precedent was established.
CleanFlicks accepted the offer along with the other companies in the edited DVD business. The companies were allowed time to clear out their inventory but were not allowed to continue creating DVDs. No more films could be edited.
CleanFlicks discontinued selling edited movies at the end of the summer of 2006.
CleanFlicks Today
Now, CleanFlicks supplies DVD releases of unedited movies under the model of reviewing and rating movies. Their slogan is “ONLY Movies You Can Trust”. They claim that their movies will not contain any “nudity, no graphic violence, and no sexual content.”
The company has no announced plans to return to the business of supplying edited movies at this time.