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Watchmen Movie Lawsuit Finally Outed As Studio Pissing Match
San Francisco, 6:41 PM
Tue Dec 1
30 posts in the last 24 hours
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Watchmen Movie Lawsuit Finally Outed As Studio Pissing Match |
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01/03/09
FOX "sold" the international distribution contract to Paramount, and when the film went to Warners, Paramount retained, or rather converted that contract into an equivalent agreement with Warners.
FOX claims they are entitled to the domestic distribution, but on what basis? Merely on the basis that they had the film in development once. They didn't buy those distribution rights from anyone; the studio that makes a film always has full distribution rights unless (a) they sell a contract for distribution to someone else (for instance, Dreamworks Studios traditionally went to Paramount for distribution), or (b) they pass on making the film entirely.
What FOX did here was claim that even though they passed on the film (it never got beyond the development stage as far as I can tell), they still have a claim to the domestic distribution thanks to a bizarre deal they made with the producer who took it with him to Warners.
Like I said, FOX may have a legal claim purely on the basis of a contract (though to be frank, contracts aren't worth the paper they are printed on in the entertainment industry), but the basis of that contract is rediculous, and asking someone to sign one like that shouldn't be legal in the first place IMO.
01/03/09
When Fox handed over their production rights, it was supposed to have been with the understanding that they would still retain partial domestic distribution rights, but that the recipient of their production rights had the option to buy them out completely. The only real question left is whether he actually did so before selling all of his collected rights to WB. And since it sounds like they handed the production rights over for free, the idea that they'd opt to retain a share of the distribution rights as a means of covering their expenses is pretty sound.
01/03/09
Basically it comes down to whether a bill of sale can be produced. If it can't, then Fox will probably win. If it can, they'll be kicked to the curb.
01/03/09
01/03/09
Someone thought that? Really? Are they wearing a dunce cap?
It's about the money. It's always about the money.
-Kle.
01/03/09
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01/04/09
Now they're just fighting over what size of deal to make, even if they're saying they have sole rights.
The problem is, yes, Watchmen will make a fair amount of money, but it was already big budget before advertising and now legal costs. The ensuing "tame" opening weekend of 100 million or so is really going to piss off Warner. Hell, it might even kill SuperHero/comic adaptations for awhile. Which is a good thing, to be honest. There's been too many and without anyone paying attention to the story, except Marvel and Nolan.