DC, Warners Shamed in handling of Superman copyright

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DC, Warners Shamed in handling of Superman copyright

Post by Draco »

Nasty old business this sometimes. :|

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/19724.html

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Post by comicsyte95 »

:(

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Post by xodacia81 »

Sometimes I think that this is a part of why I became disenchanted with the Superman titles.

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Daniel Jackson
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Post by Daniel Jackson »

Just plain sad. Seems to me it would have made a lot more sense just to have worked things out with the families instead of spending tons of $$$ in lawyer fees. Not to mention all of the bad PR this caused.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the heirs have all of rights back in 2013.

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Post by sanman »

Daniel Jackson wrote:Just plain sad. Seems to me it would have made a lot more sense just to have worked things out with the families instead of spending tons of $$$ in lawyer fees. Not to mention all of the bad PR this caused.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the heirs have all of rights back in 2013.
I’m amazed that DC didn’t try to reach amiable decision long ago. It wouldn’t surprise me if the families either charge DC a ridiculous licensing fee or go with an entirely new publisher once they have full control. Certainly, any negative action taken by the families is entirely the Publisher’s fault.

On the other hand, loosing the first superhero in such an ugly way would mean bad PR and a considerable profit loss, but DC is so much more than just Superman. As long as DC continues to publish Batman and Green lantern titles I’ll be a happy camper. I could get over loosing Superman/Batman—I’ve considered dropping the title a couple times anyway.

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Post by sanman »

Image

Marvel Comics could soon own the copyright to Superman, an older article from ’09 but interesting nonetheless...
http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in- ... o-superman :hm:

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Post by robb77 »

sad

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Post by Daniel Jackson »

sanman wrote:Image

Marvel Comics could soon own the copyright to Superman, an older article from ’09 but interesting nonetheless...
http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in- ... o-superman :hm:
I suppose I couldn't blame the heirs if they choose to go that route, but it would be a sad day for the DC Universe. I can't imagine DC without Supes.

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Post by superman-prime »

that could end my comic reading

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Post by comicguy »

I have had major issues with these lawsuits since the begining.

1st Siegal and Shuster did create Superman and then sold him to DC for publication
2nd Siegal and Shuster shamed DC into giving them money back in the late 70's when the first Superman movie came out.
3rd Siegal and Shuster heirs were given even more props and money in the late 80's
4th brings us today (I do agree that if Siegal and Shuster were smarter business people way back when, they should have received $$$$) but today it is just murky business and DC is doing what they think is needed to protect their intrests. I do feel really bad for how Siegal and Shuster were treated by DC and parent companies for all those years but IMHO they created something, sold that something and then wanted more for something. I beleive the whole thing should have ended there!!! but alas that is what we have courts and lawsuits for.
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Post by ian_house »

I have every sympathy for the heirs but the DCU without Supes would be fudged. How would they explain everything thats happened in the past?

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Post by Draco »

These things are always such a mess and we will never know all the sides to the stories, so i just read and feel sad all over for everyone involved, from the Heirs to DC to us.

:|

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Post by magnusr »

comicguy wrote:IMHO they created something, sold that something and then wanted more for something.
I agree and would even remove the "IMHO". Still, new laws give them new rights. Lots of complicated aspects here for both sides. Totally agree with Draco.

/Magnus

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Post by sanman »

I hear what you guys are saying—perhaps the situation isn’t as simple as it appeared to me. Still, with the new laws giving Superman back to the creators' estates in 2013, shouldn’t DC have done more to build a mutually beneficial arrangement sooner rather than later?

I see more incentive for the families to shop Superman around—if only out of spite—than to work out an agreement with DC right away. The fact that we might not agree with the present conflict isn’t as important as what may be the inevitable outcome.

No, despite my initial post, I really do care about Superman remaining a DC character. And I have to agree that a DCU void of Superman would not be as good.

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Post by magnusr »

sanman wrote:shouldn’t DC have done more to build a mutually beneficial arrangement sooner rather than later?
Great point

/Magnus

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Post by OmenSpirits.com »

captain marvel will become the new 'S' for DC.

Interested? :hm:

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Post by cplsimon »

Really bad for the industry as a whole.

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Post by sanman »

OmenSpirits.com wrote:captain marvel will become the new 'S' for DC.

Interested? :hm:
Wouldn’t that be ironic!

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Post by tmcneil82 »

I see a new avengers book coming out with Superman on the roster. Probably another X book too. Might as well make a MAX version as well. Probably a few years of Spider-Man and Superman : .... minis as well.

I miss anything?

Seriously though, no. Please no.

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Post by OmenSpirits.com »

Captain marvel, as a whole, is a better character than Superman.

I think he'd make a better Lead character.

Why not? :)

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Post by sanman »

Image


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