Comments on: Another $1 billion movie, another lawsuit http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:21:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Bill Cunningham http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2584273 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:26:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2584273 They're upset because apparently Batman ripped off their town? Turkish cinema and comics are NOTORIOUS for their flagrant copyright violations. They made a turkish version of STAR WARS, SUPERMAN, KILLING (the Italian fumetti neri villain), SPIDERMAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA and many others. Many international film distributors don't even bother to sell to Turkey anymore because once something is released in Greece it mysteriously ends up in Turkey on a bootleg. They’re upset because apparently Batman ripped off their town?

Turkish cinema and comics are NOTORIOUS for their flagrant copyright violations. They made a turkish version of STAR WARS, SUPERMAN, KILLING (the Italian fumetti neri villain), SPIDERMAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA and many others.

Many international film distributors don’t even bother to sell to Turkey anymore because once something is released in Greece it mysteriously ends up in Turkey on a bootleg.

]]> by: michael http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581994 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:43:12 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581994 Seriously, I'd love to see that make it to U.S. Courts, then Turkey spends millions for continuing legal costs, then the lawsuit is simply laughed out of existence by the Judge and the United States of America. Seriously, I’d love to see that make it to U.S. Courts, then Turkey spends millions for continuing legal costs, then the lawsuit is simply laughed out of existence by the Judge and the United States of America.

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581867 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:33:24 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581867 It must have been a slow newsday at Variety and THR to even give this attention- but alas - there it was - the headline story this morning. How many copies have I seen in the trash around the office already? How can the entertainment industry waste so much time on something so stupid and trivial? Oh, and about those Olson twins... ~ Coat It must have been a slow newsday at Variety and THR to even give this attention- but alas - there it was - the headline story this morning.

How many copies have I seen in the trash around the office already?

How can the entertainment industry waste so much time on something so stupid and trivial?

Oh, and about those Olson twins…

~

Coat

]]> by: Brian Jacoby from Secret Headquarters Tallahassee, Florida http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581107 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:04:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581107 I wonder what happens when "Wolverine, Nevada" sues, or "Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham, Benin" sues... I wonder what happens when “Wolverine, Nevada” sues, or “Peter Porker the Spectacular Spider-Ham, Benin” sues…

]]> by: James Van Hise http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581093 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:56:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581093 Um, this is the sixth Batman movie in the last 20 years. They just noticed? Um, this is the sixth Batman movie in the last 20 years. They just noticed?

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581047 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:34:34 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581047 Since the suit is a result of the movie, then Warner Brothers is the proper defendant. As for religion: http://www.freep.com/article/20081106/NEWS07/81106082/1009/NEWS07 As for Superman tourism, no doubt you've seen the photo of Barack Obama in front of the statue of Superman. That statue is located in the southern Illinois town of Metropolis. (Footnote: In 1850, it was proposed that Metropolis be made part of a Western District of Columbia.) (And for Star Trek fans, head on over to Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.) Since the suit is a result of the movie, then Warner Brothers is the proper defendant.

As for religion:
http://www.freep.com/article/20081106/NEWS07/81106082/1009/NEWS07

As for Superman tourism, no doubt you’ve seen the photo of Barack Obama in front of the statue of Superman. That statue is located in the southern Illinois town of Metropolis. (Footnote: In 1850, it was proposed that Metropolis be made part of a Western District of Columbia.)

(And for Star Trek fans, head on over to Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.)

]]> by: larrymarder http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581035 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:21:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2581035 Tony Twist's case didn't have a leg to stand on either. But he won. Twice. This looks like a good old fashioned ambulance chaser shakedown to me. It will be interesting to see how far this goes before it mysteriously (and privately) goes away. Tony Twist’s case didn’t have a leg to stand on either.
But he won.
Twice.
This looks like a good old fashioned ambulance chaser shakedown to me.
It will be interesting to see how far this goes before it mysteriously (and privately) goes away.

]]> by: El Santo http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580995 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:07:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580995 Winged freak ... terrorizes? Winged freak … terrorizes?

]]> by: jimmy palmiotti http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580967 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:00:05 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580967 yay paul...and really...sue me, sue you, sue everyone. enough already. good luck with that case . not. yay paul…and really…sue me, sue you, sue everyone. enough already. good luck with that case . not.

]]> by: Edward Liu http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580927 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:30:41 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580927 Brian K. Vaughan <a HREF="http://www.bkv.tv/pages/comixography_page04_new.html" rel="nofollow">really used the town of Batman for a plot point</A> in a JLA Annual, apparently. Brian K. Vaughan really used the town of Batman for a plot point in a JLA Annual, apparently.

]]> by: Al http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580843 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:56:36 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580843 Tourism is up, up and away. Oh, that was the town of Superman. Tourism is up, up and away. Oh, that was the town of Superman.

]]> by: Bill http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580809 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:43:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580809 This perfectly cromulent case will certainly embiggen Batman in the eyes of the world. Pulphope: Spot on Sir! This perfectly cromulent case will certainly embiggen Batman in the eyes of the world.

Pulphope: Spot on Sir!

]]> by: pulphope http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580796 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:31:43 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580796 If they want to look into suing for death counts stemming from associations to fictional characters, they ought to look toward religious literature. If they want to look into suing for death counts stemming from associations to fictional characters, they ought to look toward religious literature.

]]> by: Steve Price http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580746 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:16:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580746 Why so litigious? Why so litigious?

]]> by: Sean W http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580731 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:09:43 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580731 The name of the city itself is short for "Batı Raman," a nearby mountain range. Case closed, I'd say. The name of the city itself is short for “Batı Raman,” a nearby mountain range.

Case closed, I’d say.

]]> by: Tommy Raiko http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580710 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:01:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580710 "Doesn’t Warner Bros. license Batman from DC? DC is always the plaintiff in the trademark infringment suits. Warners owns the rights as much as say, McDonalds for its happymeal toys." That's probably technically true on an intra-company level, but the fact is that DC Comics is a division of the overall Warner Bros. media empire, so it's accurate and understandable to refer to Warner Bros. as the character's owner, especially in quick reportage like this story. “Doesn’t Warner Bros. license Batman from DC? DC is always the plaintiff in the trademark infringment suits. Warners owns the rights as much as say, McDonalds for its happymeal toys.”

That’s probably technically true on an intra-company level, but the fact is that DC Comics is a division of the overall Warner Bros. media empire, so it’s accurate and understandable to refer to Warner Bros. as the character’s owner, especially in quick reportage like this story.

]]> by: Wilson Ramos jr http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580702 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:57:11 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580702 yes, WB license Batman from DC, but DC don't have the same money as WB so they going to try to sue the one with the most money. This is just a mayor trying to get money for himself he don't care who really owns Batman. yes, WB license Batman from DC, but DC don’t have the same money as WB so they going to try to sue the one with the most money. This is just a mayor trying to get money for himself he don’t care who really owns Batman.

]]> by: Tommy Raiko http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580699 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:56:25 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580699 Oh, sure! Now that there's a billion-dollar-movie at play, the town of Batman sues! Why didin't they sue when the town was a plot point in that Planet DC JLA Annual a few years back that introduced some Turkish superhero? Actually, I'd be interested to see the actual complaint. Not to belittle the tragedies of suicide and murder, but I'm curious as to what argument they could possibly make that links this movie to a "high female suicide rate" or "a number of unsolved murders" which sound like sociological/cultural problems deeper than some movie... Oh, sure! Now that there’s a billion-dollar-movie at play, the town of Batman sues! Why didin’t they sue when the town was a plot point in that Planet DC JLA Annual a few years back that introduced some Turkish superhero?

Actually, I’d be interested to see the actual complaint. Not to belittle the tragedies of suicide and murder, but I’m curious as to what argument they could possibly make that links this movie to a “high female suicide rate” or “a number of unsolved murders” which sound like sociological/cultural problems deeper than some movie…

]]> by: A-Rod http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580676 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:49:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580676 "Warner Bros., which owns the right to the Batman character," Doesn't Warner Bros. license Batman from DC? DC is always the plaintiff in the trademark infringment suits. Warners owns the rights as much as say, McDonalds for its happymeal toys. “Warner Bros., which owns the right to the Batman character,”

Doesn’t Warner Bros. license Batman from DC? DC is always the plaintiff in the trademark infringment suits. Warners owns the rights as much as say, McDonalds for its happymeal toys.

]]> by: John http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580611 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:18:13 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580611 Lame doesn't begin to describe it, Matt. Lame doesn’t begin to describe it, Matt.

]]> by: Matt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580583 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:03:26 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580583 That is really lame. That is really lame.

]]> by: Charles Skaggs http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580567 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:53:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580567 Can we get Adam West, Mayor of Quahog, to file a countersuit against the Mayor of Batman? Can we get Adam West, Mayor of Quahog, to file a countersuit against the Mayor of Batman?

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580408 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:37:58 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/11/12/another-1-billion-movie-another-lawsuit/#comment-2580408 If this suit is successful, then what of Gotham and the numerous businesses in New York City? What of Melbourne, Australia? Could those surnamed Batman sue for psychological stress? And wither Springfield? If this suit is successful, then what of Gotham and the numerous businesses in New York City?
What of Melbourne, Australia? Could those surnamed Batman sue for psychological stress?
And wither Springfield?

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