ANNE FRANK-Fonds Previews ABC film and Desists From Legal Action.

Entertainment Editors

BASLE, Switzerland--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 16, 2001

After a preview of ABC's new film the ANNE FRANK-Fonds, owner of the copyright to all writings of Anne Frank, desists from legal action.

In the past months the ANNE FRANK-Fonds (AFF), Basle, has expressed its opposition to the ABC teleplay-project "Anne Frank - The whole story". This project is based on Melissa Mullers' Biography and Kirk Ellis' script. In the view of the AFF the script of the teleplay contains too many similarities in sequence of scenes with the "Diary of Anne Frank". In the interest of an amicable solution, ABC made an offer to the AFF, which was accepted to view the teleplay on May 11th/2001 in Paris.

The AFF, heir to Anne and Otto Frank and owner of the copyright to the "Diary of Anne Frank" deeply regrets that the forthcoming ABC teleplay "Anne Frank - The whole story" falls short of doing full justice to Anne Frank's own words, the very essence of her famous diary.

Nevertheless, the Fonds will not ask for any injunctive relief with a view to preventing the broadcast of the teleplay on May 20/21 2001 in the USA. The AFF hopes that the film succeeds in disseminating the message of Anne Frank, who, through her diary, has become a worldwide symbol representing all victims of racism, antisemitism and fascism who lived in her time, just as much as of the victims of today.

The AFF is a foundation under Swiss law domiciled in Basle. The AFF was established by Otto H. Frank on 24 January 1963 and is subject to supervision by the Federal Department of the Interior. A board of trustees serving in an honorary capacity acts on behalf of the Fonds. The accounts of the AFF are audited by a recognised firm of chartered accountants. The AFF is a charitable foundation and enjoys taxfree status.

The purpose of the AFF is to promote charitable work and to play a social and cultural role in the spirit of Anne Frank. It was a particular wish of the founder that the Fonds should contribute to better understanding between different religions, to serve the cause of peace between peoples and to encourage international contacts between the young.

As the sole surviving member of his family and as sole heir of Annelies Marie Frank (ANNE FRANK) her father Otto H. Frank appointed the AFF his universal legatee and thereby assigned to it the rights to all the writings of Anne Frank. Similarly all contracts entered into by Otto H. Frank to disseminate the works and message of his daughter devolved to the AFF on his death.

The AFF is legally and organisationally independent of other organisations carrying on activities under the name of Anne Frank.