Taipei City Government

On March 16, a verdict was reached on the lawsuit between Taipei City Government and Miramar Cinema Da-Zhi on the theater’s regulation regarding outside food. Taipei High Administrative Court ruled in favor of Taipei City Government (TCG), fining Taipei Dazhi Miramar Cinema NTD 30,000 for violating consumer rights.

The Department of Information and Tourism (TPEDOIT) stated that it continued to pursue the issue despite Taipei District Court’s ruling against TCG on August 5, 2014. The original ruling was finally overruled in favor of the consumers, signifying an important milestone in protecting consumer rights. In addition, other lawsuits on related issues filed by other cinemas also ended up in favor of TCG.

Shen Yong-hua, the chief of Mass Media Affairs Division at TPEDOIT, pointed out that the now-dissolved Government Information Office (GIO) issued an administrative order in 2010 stating that while cinemas may not prohibit consumers from bringing outside food into theaters, they can ban food with strong odors, hot soup, or food that are too crunchy.

In October 2012, a total of NTD 315,000 in fines were issued by TCG on cinemas for banning all outside food. Among the 9 cases, 5 targeted Miramar Cinema Da-Zhi and Ambassador Theatres. Both theatres repudiated the punishment and filed administrative litigation lawsuits against TCG.

Shen stated that the court sided with TCG on 3 lawsuits filed by Ambassador Theatres during the first and second-instance verdicts. The court sided with Miramar Cinemas’ 2 cases during the first-instance judgment. However, TCG appealed the cases and the court reversed its stance and ruled in favor of TCG during the second-instance verdicts.

Shen further noted that there is a noticeable drop in the number of outside food regulation complaints on 2012, which is the same year TPEDOIT started fining cinemas for violating consumer rights. There were only 2 complaints filed last year.

TPEDOIT will continue to safeguard consumer rights. For any questions or complaints related with consumer rights, please call 1999 Citizen Hotline or 1950 National Consumer Service Hotline.