Scenic area threatens to sue 'Transformers' producers

Transformers dominates China box office

CHONGQING -- Representatives of a scenic area in southwest China are threatening to sue producers of the film "Transformers: Age of Extinction" for failing to show its logo in the Hollywood blockbuster, a spokesman for the area said on Friday.

Producers of the film inked a deal with representatives of Chongqing Wulong Scenic Area in Chongqing Municipality. The producers promised to show the logo of the scenic spot on the big screen as a product placement, but the logo was nowhere to be found after "Transformers" debuted, according to Li Chu, manager of the marketing department at the Tourism Marketing Center of the tourist attraction.

The film also combined the site of Wulong with some scenes shot in Hong Kong, causing some confusion among the audience, Li said.

"We do not rule out the possibility of suing the producers to defend our legitimate rights," Li said.

The Wulong Scenic Area signed the contract with Beijing-based 1905 Internet Technology Co., Ltd, one of the film's producers, instead of Paramount Pictures.

Liang Longfei, a representative with the technology company said that the film's producers did break the contract, but the scenic area should also shoulder some responsibility as it failed to deliver the contract money in time.

"We will try our best to negotiate with Paramount Pictures to get more rights for Wulong," Liang said.

Li Chu said that should such negotiations fail, they would consider filing a lawsuit.

"Transformers: Age of Extinction," the fourth installment in the robot franchise, earned 630 million yuan (about $101.6 million) in its opening weekend on the Chinese mainland.