After reading the defamatory article in this week’s netribution (LondonScreenings.scam?) we at londonscreenings.com feel that we must have the right to reply especially as — contrary to all good journalism — we were not offered the right to respond to accusations during the creation of the article. This compounds the libellous nature of the article.

londonscreenings.com was the first web site to serve the London Screenings event. londonscreenings.com has beaten off competition from multi-million dollar companies (last year) to become the most widely used web site for the event for the third year in a row. We have accomplished this by providing the best on line service for Buyers and Sellers.

londonscreenings.com is one of four bodies that organise the London Screenings event. londonscreenings.com has more clients than all of the other organisers put together and our mandate comes from well over 1000 executives from more than 34 different countries world wide. It is the media who has dubbed londonscreenings.com ‘the official london screenings web site’, a mandate which we feel is supported by the registration statistics referred to above.

The statement that we ‘used this unauthorised title to persuade buyers and sellers to part with their cash for a registration badge’ is defamatory and untrue.

We offered a range of web based services for the registration fee (listed below) and the market pass was quite obviously a non-compulsory scheme due to the fact that ‘accredited buyer’ status was not obligatory but was instead entirely voluntary.

Web Services:

• validation of status as a legitimate Buyer
• a Market Pass
• a Membership Number
• business rate deals on many central London hotels
• business rate deals on mobile phone hire
• membership number and contact details will be forwarded to each of the relevant service providers that run screenings during the week
• Extra Forwarding Service (see below)

Additionally, each of your executives can avail of the following online services:

• Buyers Short List (see below)
• Buyers News Daily (see below)
• Film Trigger (see below)
• Buyers Meeting Area (see below)
• easy-print up to the minute Sellers Listings
• easy-print up to the minute Film Listings

On the same registration page Buyers had the option to pay as an ‘accredited buyer’ or to register for free as an ‘ordinary buyer’. The article did not make this clear and accordingly misrepresented the services offered by londonscreenings.com.

The article mentioned that both Buyers and Sellers were offered extra services, this is defamatory and untrue as in fact only Buyers were offered extra services.

The other event organisers saw the merit in the Market Pass scheme but it would appear that the issue was nonetheless used as a good way to stir up negative feeling toward londonscreenings.com. Instead of a good idea being supported it was used as a stick to beat the web site with at the last minute. The badge was not what Buyers paid for, as the following emails from Buyers will testify. The badge was an attempt by our membership elevate the event to the next level for the benefit of all who attended and enjoyed the event. Whilst the sanction of the other event organisers would have been welcomed, it is not necessary for the activities of londonscreenings.com in a competitive market place.

Some emails from our clients:

Dear Alexis

Thank you for your email. Congratulations on another successful event

this year.

Best of luck with the next one!

Regards

***** ******/ **** **********

***** ******* **** ***/*********** ***** ***

________

Hello,

I look forward to the London Screenings in 2002 with great expectation, I have genuinely enjoyed this event, year on year I am more and more impressed. The web site was particularly useful and the volume and quality of the films at the event continue to be superb. I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for everything.

many thanks ****

**** ******.

Programme Executive

*** Programme Acquisition

________

Dear Alexis,

Thank you very much for all the helpful information about the London Screenings!!!

We look forward to the next market in 2002.

Best regards,

****** *******

Dear Alexis,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Unfortunately we did not attend this year, but as registered buyers we have found all the information provided very helpful and organized.
Congratulations and we wish you continued success.

Kind regards,

****** ****** *****

****** * *************

Dear Alexis,

Thank you for your message and for this years market. I don't go to Milan, since I refuse to go to two different countries for something that is basically one event.

My highest hope and request is to have one market, in on week, in one place. Where that will be, I don't care that much even though I prefer a venue in Europe.

Best of luck with your efforts.

***************

To: <registrar@londonscreenings.com>
Subject: Re: londonscreenings.com
Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 09:05:39 -0700

We experienced a lot of success at The London Screenings based in part of your mandate ... and also on our film, Dog Soldiers.  After screening the pix twice, we received offers from America, UK, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Philippines, and Latin America.  So ... thanks for fulfilling your mandate and assisting us with achieving the success we had hope for our pic.

Best regards.

****** *. ****** *********@****.***