Fox wins ruling in 'Watchmen' case

Submitted by: JR
1/8/2009 2:56:26 PM PT

I agree that if Fox owned the rights, they should distribute it, even if they sat on it for over a decade, but good lord this movie wasn't a secret. They're bringing this out now so that they get the money for a movie they didn't have to pay to make.
Submitted by: Tyler Durden
1/2/2009 7:08:54 AM PT

There should be some kind of statute of limitations on something like this. WB has been making this movie for a couple of years at least (pre-production, scripting, casting etc.) and Fox complains now that the movie is pretty much completed?! That's b.s. That'd be like if you had a t.v. that was broken and you put it on your lawn and it sat there for years. After seeing it sit there forever and no one doing anything with it someone comes along and picks up the t.v. while you watch and tells you they're gonna fix it and use it. They pay to have it fixed and just as their about to watch it you call the cops and say they stole it from you. Fox should eat a bowl of dicks on this one.
Texas Cool
Submitted by: HW
1/2/2009 1:43:38 AM PT

I'm really not sure who to side with, here.
I've been waiting for this movie for 7 years, so I'd really like to see it made.
However, legal rights are legal rights, no matter how one looks at it.
Submitted by: Chris Shaffer
1/1/2009 2:48:53 PM PT

I understand that Fox is legally in the right on this one, but the judge should have put a limit on how much Fox can get out of this, given that Warner Bros. has done all of the work to put the film together as it exists now. Fox has only spent legal fees. They should get a modest royalty/licensing check, and that's it. As it stands now, they serve to claim most of the profit with no effort.
Canada
Submitted by: Wodanis
12/31/2008 9:34:47 PM PT

After reading this I can't believe it. Fox dumped the project and though they may retain the distribution rights for the comic book, that doesn't mean they own the intellectual property rights for the book. This is nothing more than a blatant cash grab for Fox.
Submitted by: J. Kovaks
12/31/2008 6:25:46 PM PT

Fox dropped the movie. The project moved from studio to studio for over a decade. Fox did nothing with it. Meanwhile WB Has the rights to DC Comics based movies.

In the contract deal back in the 80's, fox had the right to distribute it. They turned down Gordon so Gordon went to other studios. Fox turned it down. Gordon, who has the rights to produce the movie, went somewhere else. Boo Hoo Fox, you said no, too bad.
Submitted by: DJ jackson deemanboy24@hotmail.com
12/31/2008 11:26:31 AM PT

As much as I hate to see this movie be delayed or canceled I have to agree with the judge. If a company owns the rights to something and another company uses it without permission then they have every right to do this. I hate it but...the judge is right.
Submitted by: Karen Karn
12/28/2008 9:45:39 AM PT

Let's see - WB illegally makes a movie for which it doesn't have the rights, and FOX is to blame? Right. This isn't the first time WB's screwed up and made a movie without getting the rights first. Fox has every right to protect what it legally owns.
Submitted by: bunny
12/28/2008 1:03:15 AM PT

-- This post was removed because it violates the terms and agreements of Variety.com. --
Submitted by: SG
12/26/2008 11:41:31 PM PT

I hope Fox is reading this:

Good job on sitting on a project for 10+ years, then when someone has the creativity and vision to actually make a movie out of it step up to cash in without so much as paying for the craft table!

I guess you'll have yourself a real #1 movie after all!
Submitted by: PHILIP filmkr27@aol.com
12/26/2008 9:52:41 PM PT

I don't understand how a movie can get made and be released within a few months and have this issue not be resolved even before they put one cent into the making onf this movie
Philadelphia electrician
Submitted by: Joe Franco
12/26/2008 5:52:41 PM PT

That judge should be investigated.

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