Yup. It's like Action #1 entering the public domain. No, that doesn't mean Superman is completely available.
Bill Willingham releases Fables into the public domain.
doctorbadwolf
Heretic of The Seventh Circle
That’s a whole can of worms itself. By which I mean utter BS that exemplifies the worst of modern IP law.
Twiggly the Gnome
Legend
Out of curiosity, I checked the rights declaration in the first collected edition...
... looks like DC claimed joint copyright with Willingham, but all the associated trademarks are Willingham's.
... looks like DC claimed joint copyright with Willingham, but all the associated trademarks are Willingham's.
Parmandur
Book-Friend
Yeah, and I think that matters more than Willingham realizes.Out of curiosity, I checked the rights declaration in the first collected edition...
View attachment 295136
... looks like DC claimed joint copyright with Willingham, but all the associated trademarks are Willingham's.
Rabulias
the Incomparably Shrewd and Clever
Yes, DC published that collection and they share the copyright. I am not an IP (or any other kind of) lawyer, but as I understand it, Willingham's actions do not grant anyone special privileges to the works he created with DC. Those specific works are copyrighted. What this does allow (again, IMO) is people to create new works and new stories based on the Fables stories, setting, and characters. The broader IP is what is shared, not the already created works. By this same token, if someone were to create a new Fables comic book, with new stories, that work would be copyrighted by that creator and their publisher.... looks like DC claimed joint copyright with Willingham, but all the associated trademarks are Willingham's.
Edited to add: A new creator could not use the same Fables logo and trade dress that DC Comics used, as that is probably covered by trademark. Unless it is part of the "distinctive elements" that Willingham holds trademark to.
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There is also surely some specific contract language we are not privy. Willingham himself alludes to it in his post.
But in either case: bring on the Fables RPG Kickstarter!
Parmandur
Book-Friend
Realistically, I doubt anyone will try and put anything on the line: too much risk from Warner-Diaco ery, too little reward when they can just do a rip-offf based on the same public domain stuff.
From way back on the 18th.
www.ign.com
DC Insists Fables Comic Book Series Is Not in the Public Domain Despite Creator's Claims - IGN
DC has issued an official statement in response to Bill Willingham's announcement that he has put his hit comic series Fables into the public domain, stating that the company "reserves all rights" to the property.
overgeeked
B/X Known World
Yeah. There’s no way this doesn’t end up in court.From way back on the 18th.
DC Insists Fables Comic Book Series Is Not in the Public Domain Despite Creator's Claims - IGN
DC has issued an official statement in response to Bill Willingham's announcement that he has put his hit comic series Fables into the public domain, stating that the company "reserves all rights" to the property.
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