Comments on: Copyright problems sink int'l LEAGUE distro

By: Cigarrest

Cigarrest — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:56:24 +0000

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By: Doodee

Doodee — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:09:08 +0000

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By: SeanNoir

SeanNoir — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:53:20 +0000

The Comic Book Resources article is innacurate in mentioning “70 years since the death of the author”, that has nothing to do with US copyright expiration.
It’s beyond me how the dossiers publication is restricted to the US only, I know that the characters are supposed to be taken from the “British spy scene of the 50’s”. Probably pastiched characters. The use of “Jimmy” should be fine legally considering James Bond is a stock-character, though there may be some legal action, however wrongful that might be. It’s more confusing when you consider the Wells characters used in the first two volumes.
One should also take into consideration the fact that even if you do use a character that is in the public domain both in the U.S. and internationally you still may be sued by someone just because they can sue you.

By: Cary Coatney

Cary Coatney — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:19:56 +0000

All bickering aside -

All I want in this remaining lifetime is to see Marvel finally release the entire Master of Kung Fu series as part of their Marvel Essentials books?

Is that too much to damn ask?

Coat

By: Nat Gertler

Nat Gertler — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:06:21 +0000

“(The early Fu Manchu stories are in the public domain.)”

Just to be clear — they’re in the public domain in the US; I believe (but haven’t double-checked) that they are not PD worldwide.

By: Nat Gertler

Nat Gertler — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:31:26 +0000

“It was done when Fu Manchu had fallen out of copyright. Notice that now that Fu is back under copyright, Marvel does not claim Shang Chi’s heritage and League 1 did not dare speak his name.”

Not according to any history of the situation that I ever read. Marvel had licensed the Fu Manchu property, and credited the creator in the book. I’m not sure by what mechanism you think that something under the public domain was moved back into copyright; that’d be taking something out of the public domain.

(The early Fu Manchu stories are in the public domain.)

And as for Marvel not claiming Shang Chi’s heritage… you may want to check Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #16, published in 2002.

By: Mauricio

Mauricio — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:51:38 +0000

Thanks a lot for this important correction, Mark.

By: BradyDale

BradyDale — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:56:47 +0000

All I have to say is: color me curious as to who these legally complicated characters might be!!!???!!!???
I love the League books. Can’t wait!

By: Mark Hazard

Mark Hazard — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:53:45 +0000

Rich, what about the vinyl record that Moore intended to accompany this book and for which he wrote and recorded music with Tim Perkins?
http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/bakersdozen/back20070103.shtml

Mauricio, while this will be the third League story released, it won’t be volume 3, but merely ‘The Black Dossier.’ It will be the final thing Moore will ever release through DC/WS. On the other hand, the stories after that, will be called Volume 3: Century and will be released through Top Shelf and Knockabout.
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=5977
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=2&title=583

By: Christopher Moonlight

Christopher Moonlight — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:34:31 +0000

“… would Mr. Moore try to kill his own book?!”

I think he would. I get the impression that he wants out, yet feels that people are going to keep calling him, unless he makes himself unpalatable. I cannot judge him as a person for good or bad. I don’t know him. As a writer he has done work to rival the bard. Hell, he really is the bard of our time, comics aside, lets face it.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:59:16 +0000

Scoreknower seems to believe Alan Moore could bend publishers to his will and make them publish books that get them into legal trouble. He also wilfully misreads or misunderstands what everyone else says in order to troll in the most hilarious ways. There is no way he’s a Wildstorm employee or anyone in the media or publishing industry, except maybe on Earth Psycho.

You might he’s really in love or lust with Alan Moore but this is the only way he can express his love for the elusive Mr. Moore. Otherwise he would post under his real name.

By: Mauricio

Mauricio — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:05:26 +0000

Pardon my ignorance but I don’t understand this very well because, yeah -like Gerhardt says-, Black Dossier will be published by Top Shelf and Knockabout in 2008, so I don’t clearly understand why DC has copyright problems with the book if this is now out of their hands.
I made an interview with Mr. Moore two weeks ago for the mexican press, and he tell me that everything was OK with the project, so the first book of (the 3 that will complete) Black Dossier will be out in 2008.
But, of course, maybe you have more info, guys.

By: Mark Hazard

Mark Hazard — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:34:07 +0000

I think it’s Ian Fleming Publications who own the literary copyrights to Bond, not EON. EON (the Broccoli family) own the filmic Bond, along with the video and video games aspects of this IP.

By: Thomas Gerhardt

Thomas Gerhardt — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:16:56 +0000

By the way – let us just assume that ScoreKnower is in fact a Wildstorm employee with inside knowledge, then this statement: “this is all about Moore trying to get DC to drop the book because he dangerously broke the law- again. Like he did and does all the time” (time stamp 10.32) merits some thought.

Considering that the next LOEG books will be published by Top Shelf and considering the rather public fall-out (yes, again) between Mr. Moore and DC and also keeping in mind that Wildstorm/DC was rather generous in letting another controversial creator-owned property go with Ennis/Robertson’s “The Boys”…

… and keeping in mind the constant delays of the book…

… would Mr. Moore try to kill his own book?! Perhaps, perhaps not. I don’t know.

But it does merit some thought… IF the poster truly comes from Wildstorm

By: Thomas Gerhardt

Thomas Gerhardt — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:54:38 +0000

That’s actually a valid point. Mr. Murphy did have the backbone to participate in the grand and glorious Rich Johnston vs. Don Murphy fight under his own name, gotta give him that!

(Hey, Rich! That WAS a fun fight, wasn’t it? Did Big Brother give you his love… or at least presents for Christmas?! I always wondered)

Actually, I think we should all post under our real names, except Heidi, who IS the BEAT (who else could that be?)… it may prevent derailing, personal and pig-headed comments, because then people know it’s a real person, yes?

What was that netiquette thingie again? Never post something that you wouldn’t tell somebody to his/her face…

So, if that presumed Wildstorm employee would kindly state his real name :P