Judge backs Fox's rights to Watchmen

[Krug]

Heh yes it probably wasn't the right phrase to use, but I suppose Fox will just take a cut of the film and that'll be that. Still, they did do a thing by not saying anything until the last minute.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Well, if you have been checking out the news page, you know that the judge has sided with FOX on the rights: Fox Owns "Watchmen" Rights - Circvs Maximvs

I think this film may be dead in the can at this time, just a feeling FOX wants it all and WB is not going to agree to that. WB can write it off as a loss and do better than sharing with FOX.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

According to a release regarding the decision:

Judge Gary A. Feess has also suggested that both Fox and Warner Brothers should work on a settlement or an appeal rather than going to trial.

That may not sound like much, but IME, when a judge "suggests" that parties work things out, he's usually pissed at both sides.

 

[Felon]

Now I'm hoping warner vaults / destroys the movie. They can makeup the loss.

Heh yes it probably wasn't the right phrase to use, but I suppose Fox will just take a cut of the film and that'll be that. Still, they did do a thing by not saying anything until the last minute.

It's just business, guys.

 

[Mistwell]

I'm just hoping the rumors are true that this lawsuit will open the door for the old Batman tv series to finally get a dvd release.

I have it on good insider authority that those rumors are true, and that the Batman series was one primary motivating factor over this whole lawsuit.

 

[Mistwell]

I think this film may be dead in the can at this time

Care to wager....any amount of money on that feeling of yours?

 

[Merlin's Shadow]

I think this film may be dead in the can at this time, just a feeling FOX wants it all and WB is not going to agree to that. WB can write it off as a loss and do better than sharing with FOX.

Not a chance. There is too much money to be made. They will work out an agreement of some sort even if neither side likes it.

 

[timbannock]

Not a chance. There is too much money to be made. They will work out an agreement of some sort even if neither side likes it.

Neither side will like it, completely, but you're right: they'll do it.

 

[Umbran]

It's just business, guys.

That means it is legal and allowed. It doesn't make it right, ethical, or something we should accept without complaint.

 

[GSHamster]

That means it is legal and allowed. It doesn't make it right, ethical, or something we should accept without complaint.

Well, this is Neil Gaiman's take on the issue, and it seems reasonable to me:

Having just read the judgment in the Fox v Warners Watchmen case over at http://bradfox.com/downloadables/watchmen_dec2408_order.pdf
I find myself moving from "those grasping Fox people" to being puzzled that Warners are even fighting the case (well, I'm not really -- Warners gave Paramount the right to distribute the movie in the rest of the world when they got the Watchmen option back from Paramount. If they lose the US too, they've paid for a big expensive movie and don't keep, well, anything). Fox had exercised an option on Watchmen, then returned the rights to the producer, reserving for themselves the right to distribute the movie, but leaving the producer the option to buy Fox out. The producer didn't buy them out, so they still own the rights to distribute it.

The bit that leaves me most puzzled about this is that in the world of movies, people are obsessive about rights, because if they aren't, things like this happen. Read the judgment -- it's in readable English.