Digital Domain and Prime Focus settle lawsuit over 3-D patents

The parent company of Venice-based visual effects house Digital Domain has settled a legal tussle with 3-D conversion rival Prime Focus World.

Digital Domain, which created visual effects for the “Transformers” movies and “Tron: Legacy,” has dropped a lawsuit it filed against Prime Focus in 2011 alleging that the Indian company had infringed on its patented technology for converting films from 2-D to 3-D.

Under a settlement agreement announced Wednesday, Digital Domain Media Group will license its 3-D conversion technology to Prime Focus, which has a large operation in Hollywood. As part of the settlement, Digital Domain and Prime Focus World will collaborate on visual effects and 2-D-to-3-D conversion services work for feature films.

“Ultimately, this was a lawsuit between two companies that enjoy working together, so we’re happy to put it behind us and resume our prior relationship with Prime Focus,” said John Textor, Digital Domain’s chairman and chief executive. “We understand that Prime Focus has its own significant 3-D technology and we are pleased to report, as this license suggests, that they respect ours as we respect theirs.”

Digital Domain, which acquired 3-D conversion company In Three, based in Westlake Village, in late 2010, owns six U.S. patents for the computerized process of converting 2-D filmed imagery into three-dimensional stereoscopic imagery. Digital Domain began licensing its 3-D technology last year to such companies as Samsung Electronics Co., the South Korean consumer electronics giant.

ALSO:

Elvis Lives on, at least digitally

Digital effects firm’s partnership with college angers artistsDigital Domain buying In Three and moving most of if out of state