Here’s some advice for anyone thinking about auctioning off their ancestor’s Academy Award. Don’t do it, or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will sue you. That’s what the family of Joseph C. Wright is learning after auctioning off his 1942 Oscar.
Late last month, Wright’s heirs auctioned off his award for color art direction on the 20th Century Fox musical My Gal Sal, with an anonymous bidder paying $79,200 for it. Wright died in 1985 and his nephew auctioned off the award with Briarbrook Auctions.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMPAS is suing the auction house, Wright’s heris and the anonymous buyer for the winning price, damages and the right to buy the award for $10. AMPAS rules state that a member must give the organization the first right to buy the award for at least $10 and this rule does apply to heirs.
AMPAS really doesn’t like it when Oscars hit the auction block. Since 1951, winners have been forced to sign a contract that they will offer the award to AMPAS first for $1, which was later upped to $10. Still, AMPAS has gone to court over auctions for awards given before 1951.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
image of AMPAS president Cheryl Boone-Isaacs courtesy of INFphoto.com