Phase 4 Films

History

Phase 4 Films traces its history to Telegenic, a family-oriented film distributor founded in 1996. Berry Meyerowitz purchased Telegenic in 2003 and renamed it Kaboom! Entertainment. In 2006, Peace Arch Entertainment Group, which later merged with ContentFilm, purchased Kaboom!. Berry Meyerowtiz founded Phase 4 Films in April 2009 when he bought back their North American distribution business. In 2011, Phase 4 announced a new Canadian television venture alongside Take 5 Development. In 2012, they partnered with Kevin Smith's SModcast Pictures to distribute those films in the United States and Canada. In 2014, Phase 4 acquired ESI Distribution and signed distribution deals with The Criterion Collection and Shout! Factory. On June 2, 2014, Phase 4 Films was acquired by Entertainment One.

Lawsuit

In 2013, Phase 4 picked up the Canadian animated feature The Legend of Sarila for distribution in the United States, renaming the film Frozen Land and drastically changing the logo to mimic that of Disney's Frozen, which was heavily marketed at the time and to be released in less than three weeks. In late December 2013, Disney filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Phase 4 in California federal court, seeking an injunction against the continued distribution of Phase 4's film in the United States. By late January 2014, the two companies had settled the case. The distribution and promotion of The Legend of Sarila and related merchandise must use its original title and Phase 4 must not use trademarks, logos or other designs confusingly similar to Disney's animated release; Phase 4 was also required to pay Disney $100,000 before January 27, 2014, and make "all practicable efforts" to remove copies of Frozen Land from stores and online distributors before March 3, 2014.