Australian tech company Blackmagic Design, which has made a major mark worldwide with its video hardware and software solutions has made the news of late over a disagreement between co-founders Grant Petty, Douglas Clarke and Peter Barber.
As well as making high end video switching gear and cameras, Blackmagic Design develops DaVinci Resolve, the video editing package that has users varying from the home hobbyist with a drone or action camera, to major movie studios – DaVinci Resolve was used for the blockbuster Avatar, and the TV show Grey’s Anatomy for example.
Barber claims he has been denied dividends for years, access to information about the business, and the ability to sell his shares. Now based in Singapore, he also alleges Mr Petty sabotaged an attempted investment in the company that valued Blackmagic at as much as $1.5 billion.
Mr Barber was last year appointed CEO and managing director of Atomos, another Australian video tech company
A spokesperson for Blackmagic Design told me “Blackmagic Design and Grant Petty deny the allegations and will respond through the appropriate court process”.
Blackmagic Design will be well known to Creative Content / Australian Videocamera readers as the company has supported me ever since I started the magazine and website.