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The Other Dubya (![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} misswindy) wrote in ![[info]](http://www.journalfen.net/img/community.gif){kind=small} fandom_wank,@ 2004-02-25 15:18:00 |
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I Believe The Phrase You're Looking for is "Neener-Neener Boo Boo"
The following is a summary of the events of what's gone on, but I'm shady on the details, so please do correct me if I messed something up.
In the mid 90s (I'm unclear about the date), Neil Gaiman brought to life a series called Miracleman, which was based loosely on a concept that included some degree of input from Todd McFarlane (executive owner of Image Comics). However, Neil really loved the Miracleman mythos, and in May of 1997, Todd McFarlane signed a contract that exchanged any rights he had to the series in exchange for all of Gaiman's rights to some other work Gaiman did for McFarlane (Medeival Spawn, etc.)
Within months Todd started hemming and hawwing and reneging on the points of that contract, and finally decided to file a copyright for Miracleman three years after the work was published, which was still within the letter of the statute of limitations, I think. Todd's main claim is that since it was his concept that Gaiman was working off of, and that he was the publisher, even though he never wrote or drew or thought of anything else, he was the rightful owner of all things Miracleman. He even started changing the copyright notices on later editions of the work to reflect this belief.
Naturally Gaiman was totally pissed off at this and decided to sue the pants off of old Toddy. But not before he flamed the hell out of him on his blog first, back in late 2001, ranting extensively while demanding a public apology as well as a donation to something called the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. (ETA: Thanks for the link and explanation,dhaunea!)
Anyway, Gaiman took Todd McFarlane to court over TMcF's copyright claim and breach of contract, where Gaiman easily won. But winning the case - twice! - just wasn't enough for Gaiman. The victory also required a gloaty, gleeful blogpost which skewers McFarlane's hilariously incompetent lawyer (whose legal exposition included such gems as "I, ah, well, um, I don't agree. Um. Your honor;" Gaimain helpfully provides an MP3 of the closing statements, and I am now embarrassed on Todd McFarlane's behalf), revels in schadenfreude over McFarlane's many recent financial, artistic and business failures, and calls McFarlane and his legal team: incredibly shifty, delusional, dishonest, stupid, greedy, crooked, hapless, and a big ole pack of liars. But he swears it's not about the money - any money he makes off of this is going right to that worthiest of causes, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Heee! And also, ouch.
You know, one gets the feeling Neil Gaiman doesn't like Todd McFarlane.
The following is a summary of the events of what's gone on, but I'm shady on the details, so please do correct me if I messed something up.
In the mid 90s (I'm unclear about the date), Neil Gaiman brought to life a series called Miracleman, which was based loosely on a concept that included some degree of input from Todd McFarlane (executive owner of Image Comics). However, Neil really loved the Miracleman mythos, and in May of 1997, Todd McFarlane signed a contract that exchanged any rights he had to the series in exchange for all of Gaiman's rights to some other work Gaiman did for McFarlane (Medeival Spawn, etc.)
Within months Todd started hemming and hawwing and reneging on the points of that contract, and finally decided to file a copyright for Miracleman three years after the work was published, which was still within the letter of the statute of limitations, I think. Todd's main claim is that since it was his concept that Gaiman was working off of, and that he was the publisher, even though he never wrote or drew or thought of anything else, he was the rightful owner of all things Miracleman. He even started changing the copyright notices on later editions of the work to reflect this belief.
Naturally Gaiman was totally pissed off at this and decided to sue the pants off of old Toddy. But not before he flamed the hell out of him on his blog first, back in late 2001, ranting extensively while demanding a public apology as well as a donation to something called the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. (ETA: Thanks for the link and explanation,
dhaunea!)Anyway, Gaiman took Todd McFarlane to court over TMcF's copyright claim and breach of contract, where Gaiman easily won. But winning the case - twice! - just wasn't enough for Gaiman. The victory also required a gloaty, gleeful blogpost which skewers McFarlane's hilariously incompetent lawyer (whose legal exposition included such gems as "I, ah, well, um, I don't agree. Um. Your honor;" Gaimain helpfully provides an MP3 of the closing statements, and I am now embarrassed on Todd McFarlane's behalf), revels in schadenfreude over McFarlane's many recent financial, artistic and business failures, and calls McFarlane and his legal team: incredibly shifty, delusional, dishonest, stupid, greedy, crooked, hapless, and a big ole pack of liars. But he swears it's not about the money - any money he makes off of this is going right to that worthiest of causes, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Heee! And also, ouch.
You know, one gets the feeling Neil Gaiman doesn't like Todd McFarlane.
