'Das Boot' cameraman wins $540,000 in lawsuit 35 years later

Jost Vacano had argued for better compensation for his work on the anti-war classic.

A scene in "Das Boot." (Columbia Pictures)

A German court has granted Jost Vacano more than half a million dollars for his contributions to Wolfgang Petersen’s 1981 anti-war film Das Boot.

The Munich court ruled in favor of the Oscar-nominated cinematographer this week by ordering Bavaria Film, WDR and Eurovideo to pay Vacano $540,000 (€475,000) along with a 2.25 percent share in all of the film’s future earnings, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Vacano successfully argued that he should be better compensated after the film’s success.

The 82-year-old cinematographer was initially given $200,000 for his work on the film, but he was cut out of the film’s profits. Despite winning in court, his compensation only covers earnings form 2002 to 2014, as previous copyright law does not account for the more than $100 million Das Boot generated worldwide.

The winnings neither included interest payments, which Vacano’s lawyer’s may appeal, THR reports. Michael Neubauer, director at the German Association of Cinematographers, said the lack of punitive damages sets a dangerous precedent for filmmakers.

“If there is no punishment for denying or delaying payment, there is no incentive to properly compensate rights holders from the start,” Neubauer told Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Vacano recently told the Abendzeitung München that at least he's included in future revenues and he won’t have to complain again when he’s 105-years-old.