Siegel’s family regain SUPERMAN rights!
Why might this news effect Superman: The Man of Steel and Justice League Mortal?
A federal judge here on Wednesday ruled that the heirs of Jerome Siegel — who 70 years ago sold the rights to the action hero he created with Joseph Shuster to Detective Comics for $130 — were entitled to claim a share of the United States copyright to the character. The ruling left intact Time Warner’s international rights to the character, which it has long owned through its DC Comics unit.
Well I can tell you why.
This new ruling means that the Siegel estate is likely to be owed some of the cut of the $200 million domestic taking of Superman Returns, making that film even more of a financial disappointment for Warner Bros who haven’t been as enthusiast to go ahead with the sequel as they did for Christopher Nolan and their other big DC property.
This could also have an impact on the Justice League of America movie which will use the Superman character as one of it’s main players.
You can read the whole article in THE NEW YORK TIMES HERE.
source - coming soon
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I don’t really see this as a good thing for the future of Superman. WB might be less enthused to use the character at all if they stand to lose more than 50% of how much they can make off of him.
Also, I don’t think the Siegels deserve it since they weren’t the ones who came up with the idea. A deal’s a deal, no matter how crappy it is.
Comment by Lencho | March 29, 2008
It’s just a shame those guys didn’t see much cash from Superman when they were alive.
Comment by The Glove | March 29, 2008
Well, as Devil’s Advocate, the creators got $130 in 1937, then $94,000 in the 1940s, then a $20,000 per-year annuity, later increased to $30,000 per-year.
Granted the Superman property made much more, but it’s not like the creators got nothing. But, something fairer like 10% would be better. I’m sure the heirs think they deserve 100%, but we must remember that value was added to the character by all the subsequent comic writers, inkers, radio show writers and performers (who added kryptonite), the various tv show writers and performers, the movie writers and performers and etc. Hundreds of people contributed to make Superman what he is today. Since the first issue of the comic book, Superman’s personality has changed dramatically, along with his powers, weaknesses, villains, side characters, and even his shield symbol.
In my opinion, 100% rights to the heirs isn’t fair, because it discounts the work of all those hundreds of people, who have made Superman what he is today. The Superman created in the 1930s, isn’t the same Superman that we know today. So, I think the heirs should get more than the 1% it seems they’ve gotten, but less than the 100% that they are after.
Maybe if all the heirs were willing to share a 50% cut, with DC getting the other 50%. That’s much fairer than whatever is going on now.
Comment by Hellen | March 29, 2008
A friend of mine said this…
“I feel for the Siegel and Shuster families. S&S got the shaft at the outset, no denying that, and they did get compensation later. I didn’t get the sense that the family is destitute at this point, and I’m unsure of whether that should have any bearing on the matter.
S&S did sign over the rights to Superman, and were given creative credit on all Superman related stories. That seems a fair deal, imo. I just wish a court with the authority to do so would rule that Siegel and Shuster be given creative credit in perpetuity for the character of Superman, and the estate given some realistic stipend for as long as the character makes money.
I don’t see how the family can presume to take control of Superman at this point. It’s been 50+ years since either man worked directly on Superman, and much of what we know as “Superman” was invented by other people. Credit to the originator is obligatory, imo, but not control of derivative works.
What would the family even do with Superman? Start up an independent comic/tv/movie/internet studio with the idea of literally rebooting the entire canon of Superman? That could be very interesting. I don’t see it happening.
DC will no doubt find some way to wrangle a feasible replacement or retconnation for “their Superman”. I mean, cripes, they killed Superman, for rating’s sake, they bubbled up a new Superboy or two; they aren’t above renaming Superman.
What a crock!
Dammit.”
I say, we’re screwed.
Comment by Lencho | March 30, 2008
I am happy for the Siegel family, they’ll finally going to get what is due to them. However, I can’t help but feel that this whole mess will not be at the fans best interest. If the family manages to get a deal with WB/DC then all ends well. But what happens if they don’t? Will they take the character to a new studio? And what happens to the 70 year mythology the DC has built? Will they be able to use it? Or does the DC legally own those characters and events? I sure would not want to see Superman re-invented.
Off course even if things do work out - and to be frank Time Warner is and probably, if they’re smart, will be the Siegels meal ticket for years to come - can we trust Warner to deliver a good and solid new Superman movie? According to their latest attempt with Justice League the answer is most likely NO. A handicap script, with a no-clue Director and teen titans for cast.
If they get a fan fave actor like Welling for Superman and two well known actors for Batman and Wonder Woman, they can easily get away with less known ones for the supporting cast. Welling alone will bring in interesting numbers. For the last 7 years he is the only one known as Superman and a lot of fans would pay to see him suit up. But most importantly, they need to polish up the script and get rid of George Miller.
As always, we’ll have to wait and see….
But in the meantime I do support fanfave Tom Welling for part of Superman, if JLA ever happens.
http://www.petitiononline.com/TW4SinJL/petition.html
Comment by Chris | March 30, 2008