Nerds in Court
Comic Books
THE LITIGATING DEAD: FORMER ARTIST FOR THE WALKING DEAD SUES CREATOR ROBERT KIRKMAN
Tony Moore was a childhood friend of Robert Kirkman. They grew up collaborating on material, including 2000′s ‘Battle Pope’ which Moore illustrated. In 2003, Moore illustrated the first six issues of TWD and continued to do the cover art for 18 issues. In 2005, Moore and Kirkman entered into a contract over the rights to … Continue reading
COURT RULES THAT MARVEL, NOT CREATOR, OWNS GHOST RIDER
Gary Friedrich began working with Marvel in the mid-1960′s writing Western comics and Sgt. Fury, among others. One of the comics Friedrich created was ‘Ghost Rider’ as a Western character that debuted in 1967. There was no flaming skull back then, just a ghostly all-white cowboy on a ghostly all-white horse. In 1972, Johnny Blaze, … Continue reading
WIMPY KID VERSUS ZOMBIE KID
Earlier this week, Wimpy Kid, Inc., filed a lawsuit against Antarctic Press in federal court in Mass., claiming trademark infringement, trademark dilution, copyright infringement, and more counts. Wimpy Kid publishes the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series of illustrated books, which debuted in April 2007 and have since sold 52MM copies in North America alone. … Continue reading
CONAN THE DEFENDANT: LAWSUIT FILED OVER RIGHTS TO CONAN
Sometimes before a movie gets made, the exclusive rights to make the movie change hands several times. This can often result in a lawsuit (e.g., the litigation that delayed ‘The Watchmen’) over the rights and Conan is now the subject of just such a suit filed last Friday in US District Court in California. The … Continue reading
CALIFORNIA MAN CHARGED BY SEC WITH INSIDER TRADING OF MARVEL
The SEC charged 26 year old Toby G. Scammell with insider trading relating to Disney’s August 31, 2009, acquisition of Marvel in a filing in the Central District of California court. The allegations are as follows: in 2009 Scammell (real name) was working at an investment fund and also living with his girlfriend of two … Continue reading
JACK KIRBY ESTATE FILED APPEAL IN LAWSUIT AGAINST MARVEL
The estate of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby filed with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge the US District Court’s decision to throw out several copyright claims against Marvel Comics. In what is one of the hottest lawsuit in comics going today, the Jack Kirby Estate’s suit has more or less claimed … Continue reading
SPIDER-MAN VILLAIN ‘THE LIZARD’ GOES FREE
Friday, August 12, 2011: The San Diego Office of the City Attorney has decided not to prosecute Welsh actor Rhys Ifans for misdemeanor battery. Ifans plays The Lizard in the “Amazing Spider-Man” movie set to release next year. The movie series is a redo of the Spider-Man story with Ifans playing a scientist who attempts … Continue reading
