Here's a snippet:
QuoteThis week, the latest judgements were made in the long-running legal battle between "Ghost Rider" creator Gary Friedrich and Marvel Characters Inc., and by extension, the latest victory of a comics company over a disaffected freelancer was also handed down.
...
Friedrich sued Marvel, Columbia Pictures, Hasbro and other companies in 2007, alleging the copyrights used in the first "Ghost Rider" movie and related products reverted to him in 2001 because, he alleged, the publisher failed to register the character's first appearance in 1972's "Marvel Spotlight" #5 with the U.S. Copyright Office. The case took a few turns, with Marvel countersuing in 2010 (http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/ghost-rider-co-creator-must-defend-himself-against-marvel-claims), seeking damages for the writer's unauthorized sale of Ghost Rider posters, T-shirts and cards online and at comic conventions.
In brief, the agreement lay out that Marvel will drop its countersuit if Friedrich agrees to pay $17,000 in damages, and ceases not only selling Ghost Rider-related items of his own creation but also promoting himself as the creator of the character for financial gain. Marvel did note Friedrich's right to sell his autograph on Ghost Rider merchandise, but only that officially created or licensed by the company's subsidiaries.
Aside from the obvious and decided victory for Marvel being the latest in a long line of cases in which the company has successfully argued that legal language stamped on the back of freelancer checks constitutes a binding work-for-hire contract, this judgment also brings up questions to the regularly-overlooked, and often vital, revenue stream of convention sales by comics creators.
More can be found here: www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36893 (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36893)
Your av is infinitely more interesting than this article. :/
Quote from: AfghanAnt on February 09, 2012, 09:59:04 PM
Your av is infinitely more interesting than this article. :/
Lol. Trainwreck drew this for me 3-4 years ago. i thought I lost it in a PC crash, but I found it, and now I will brandish it proudly despite the inaccuracy it presents (me being a wolvie fanboy). :D
Poor Mr. Friedrich. Freelance work is rough and the courts seem to favor the company. We are lucky that there are so many different companies around today that allow people to keep ownership rights. Different times back in the 70's.
Quote from: MJB on February 10, 2012, 03:06:15 AMWe are lucky that there are so many different companies around today that allow people to keep ownership rights.
On the other hand...
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/09/tony-moore-sues-robert-kirkman-over-their-walking-dead-deal/
OMG. That is just plain silly. I figured Tony was getting the money he deserved after being credited on both the comic series & the TV one. He only completed 6 issues of the Walking Dead comic series. Most of his contributions have been expanded upon & changed to the point of non-existence.
If Mr. Moore wasn't properly compensated enough then I will take his side but my gut tells me that this is just plain greed.
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/09/appeal-nicolas-cage-on-behalf-of-gary-friedrich/
QuoteAs we reported yesterday, Ghost Rider creator Gary Friedrich is facing demands of $17,000 from Marvel, who claim that his selling of Ghost Rider prints at comic book conventions was unlawful. The demands arose after Friedrich tried to make royalty claims on the use of the characters he created in the Ghost Rider films. Not only does Marvel's counterclaim mean that Friedrich is obliged to pay them the money, it will also prevent him from being able to say in future that he is the creator of Ghost Rider.
To make matters worse, Freidrich is now a senior citizen and has almost no money, let alone anywhere near enough to pay off Marvel. A Bleeding Cool reader has written an open letter to Nicolas Cage, star of the Ghost Rider movies, and has asked us to publish it on her behalf.
Dear Nicolas Cage,
I have read that you are very dedicated to making Ghost Rider II a success, so much so that you have taken a hefty pay cut in order to get this film made. Unfortunately Marvel Enterprises has won a settlement of $17,000 from artist Gary Friedrich (I am sure you know Mr. Friedrich is one of the creators of the Ghost Rider character).
Marvel winning a lawsuit against a financially destitute and unemployed senior citizen who helped create the iconic character that is the subject of the movie you care so deeply about has created a distinct antipathy toward your project.The negative effect Marvel's lawsuit has caused is perhaps far greater than you know. Facebook and Twitter are aflame with negative comments, petitions and people urging others not to see your film solely because of Marvel's treatment of Mr. Friedrich. You stand to lose millions because of the public relations disaster Marvel has caused.
Mr. Cage I know how you can personally overcome this PR nightmare, save your movie and make yourself a true hero in the eyes of the comics and movie-going public. Do you want that and more positive publicity than you have ever had? All it would take for you to be a true hero to millions of people is $17,000. That's less than the price of a car. Give $17,000 to Mr. Friedrich so that he can pay Marvel. Save your movie by saving Mr. Friedrich. My best regards to you Mr. Cage. I hope to see you at the movies.
Sincerely,
Karalyn Johnson
It's certainly true that Marvel's actions have garnered a lot of bad press on social media, but since the rage is directed at the studio rather than Cage himself, would this gesture make a difference?
http://tytempletonart.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/now-it-makes-sense-revised.jpg
Ares! Nice to see you again, dude. It's been a while. hope you're weeeeellllll. :D
Quote from: Ares_God_of_War on February 17, 2012, 02:31:05 AM
http://tytempletonart.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/now-it-makes-sense-revised.jpg
that is brilliant
It helps to know the whole story....I didn't realize Mr Friedrich was basically making money by autographing Mike Ploog's artwork (whose work I adore). Mike Ploog is also as much creator of Ghost rider as Gary is...I guess Gary didn't care about that.
Dana