Cinema City ordered to pay 26 million PLN in royalties to SFP-ZAPA

A Warsaw District Court has ordered the cinema chain Cinema City to pay nearly 26 million PLN in royalties to the SFP-ZAPA association, which represents film creators such as directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers. Including interest, which the association estimates at approximately 14 million PLN, the total amount is significant, described by SFP-ZAPA as one of the highest royalty awards in the organization's history.

The dispute, which lasted nearly nine years, concerns film screenings during the periods of 2008–2010 and 2014–2017. SFP-ZAPA calculated the dues based on a rate of 0.95 percent of the multiplex's revenue from all film screenings. The association argued that Cinema City should not have preferential terms, as this same rate was applied in hundreds of other contracts with different cinemas.

Cinema City has announced its intention to appeal the ruling, noting that the decision is from a court of first instance and is not yet final or enforceable. The company stated that its dispute concerns ensuring royalties are calculated correctly and reach the intended creators. Cinema City cited a September 2024 Supreme Court ruling regarding a different period (2011–2013) to support its position, a move that SFP-ZAPA has contested.