City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

The never ending battle for Superman rights continues

Nericus

By Nericus,
Posted on: 2012-11-05 10:33 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture

 

Posted

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments today on whether a negotiated 2001 deal DC Comics should prevent the daughter of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel from reclaiming his portion of the rights to the Man of Steel under a provision of U.S. copyright law. A federal judge determined in 2008 and 2009 that the writer’s heirs had successfully recaptured the copyright, asserting that because the 2001 agreement hadn’t been formalized, there was no deal. The appeals court is also set to review a ruling allowing DC to sue Marc Toberoff, who represents both the Siegel family and the estate of his collaborator Joe Shuster, for interfering with its agreements with the heirs.


Also 2013 is the year that the Shuster estate can file termination of copyright sharing per the law. If that is the case, DC may have some negotiations to do with that particular estate.

 

Posted

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com...opyright-case/

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com...-legal-battle/

I do so wish that DC and the estates would fire their lawyers and then sit down at a conference table and resolve this in a more expedient fashion. I've read about the deals that DC offered the creators such as their names being credited in perpetuity for creating Superman as well as yearly amounts of cash, benefits and survivor benefits. While the amount in the deal may be a fraction (or micro fraction) of what DC makes, it still isn't that bad of a deal. Perhaps they should stick with that deal, increase the amount a bit to accommodate the changing times/economy and let it be done.