MarvelMan

Grant · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2656

Oh I can't wait for this to pop up in Bleeding Cool or Robot 6.

And inevitable PAD response Rolling Eyes

Erik Larsen · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 5955 Location: Oakland

Grant · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2656

It's one of the frustrating things about these deals since everyone thinks they know what happened between Neil and Todd and really only a handful of people know the full story.

But it'd be nice if Todd could get his characters back from Neil. I don't think that's going to happen though.

Thomas · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 514

zenreaper · Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Massachusetts

Thing is Gaiman's nuts if he thinks McFarlane's going to sue. What a crappy thing of him to insinuate.

English law is so specific about this stuff. Was talking to a casual aquaintance who worked at Quality at the time - none of Moore, Leach and Davis's work was work for hire (nor was Anglo's for that matter). There's no such thing in the UK, creators' rights are SO much better protected there.

Since the character rights have legally been established to have always been Anglo's, that nulls and voids the purchase of the rights from the Eclipse bankruptcy. Eclipse never legally had them.

So Anglo was the holder of the character rights, Moore, Leach and Davis all own their Warrior work - no one would have any legal challenge if Marvel reprints that stuff with the writer and artists' permission. The American reprints through Eclipse exist as a seperate legal entity. They just need to keep the original Marvelman name, and get a new colorist. Legally they may need to work from the original art or the films (if such still exist).

The later new stuff that Gaiman did gets a little murkier granted. But for McFarlane to sue, he'd have to legally establish that Anglo was not the true owner of the rights.

I honestly cannot believe for a second he'd do something like that!

It's obnoxious of Gaiman to imply it frankly.

While it sucks that McFarlane sunk money into something that turned out to be about as worhwhile as a deed to the Brooklyn Bridge - in terms of the rights to Marvelman - he also got a lot of other great stuff. I know he's expressed a great deal of affection for Eclipse and the work they did, something I certainly agree with. Hopefully everyone can move on - this would be such a great time to see some of the other classic Eclipse stuff get reprinted.

And perhaps get some of those characters back in new comics!

Thomas · Joined: 12 May 2008 Posts: 514

zenreaper · Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Massachusetts

Would Neil Gaiman sue if they reprinted it without compensating him? Couldn't say, but he'd certainly legally (and ethically) be well within his rights.

Would McFarlane sue if they reprinted it without making arrangements with him? Again couldn't say.

But - he'd absolutely have legal grounds if they used the name Miracleman, or the logos and such he owns a part of. There's also some question about characters like Miraclewoman, who as I recall was created during the series.

I'm not sure exactly what provisions Eclipse made for characters created during the series. Generally speaking they were very good about protecting a creator's ownership - but I couldn't say for sure. She may very well have been part of the 60% rights McFarlane purchased when they went bankrupt.

Dunno really.

Quest Mar-Vell · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:16 am Post subject:

Eddie Kasik · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1584

Quest Mar-Vell · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:55 am Post subject:

lol... ok. Thanks

Jim Purcell · Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 1354 Location: Connecticut, USA

Its Peter David, I have no idea where the A comes from.

Eddie Kasik · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 1584

Quest Mar-Vell · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:39 pm Post subject:

Peter "Asshole" David