Between the Panels: Gary Friedrich

Between the Panels: Gary Friedrich

This post is mostly to link to all the sites that have put up some interesting article about the Gary Friedrich case. If you are unfamiliar, He was the man who claimed sole ownership and creation of Ghost Rider and sued Marvel for making the Ghost Rider movie. He lost. Marvel defended their copyright and sued him for $17,000.

Heh.

When you are a writer, you work with others in creating characters. Unless you happen to be an artist. but then if you create that wonderful character, why are you looking at giving that character to a corporation like Marvel? Marvel Comics, which is currently owned by Disney, will surely go after your ass if you claim any kind of copyright on a character they own and make millions off of. Disney's lawyers wrote the book on extending copyright on creations long after their original creator has died.

Small fact: Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse, is technically in the public domain. But try making any money off that creation and see how fast Disney will sue you.

I think that creators and artist should be trying to sell their own shit at conventions from their own creations, the stuff that they own. Less of a legal mess that way.

Anyway, link dumb. Check it out if you would like.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/14/jean-marc-lofficier-on-the-consequences-of-the-gary-friedrich-decision/

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/15/john-nee-dan-slott-rob-liefeld-and-artists-alley/

http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/15/buckley-and-quesada-speak-on-marvels-side-of-the-gary-friedrich-matter/