The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has filed a lawsuit against late Oscar-winner Joseph Wright's successors and Briarbrook Auctions for reportedly selling his Oscar statuette.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Academy asserted in their lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court the trophy, which was awarded to Wright in 1942 for color and art direction on 'My Gal Sal', was auctioned for 79,200 dollars in June 2014.
As per Academy's rules put after 1951, award winners or their heirs are prohibited to sell their Oscars without offering the Academy the first right to acquire them for 10 dollars, which was later lowered to 1 dollar.
The Academy is now demanding the right to buy the Oscar for 10 dollars along with compensatory damages, the auctioned price of the statuette, as well as punitive damages.
