We may never get to see THE WATCHMEN

[GreenScar]

I guess Fox is claiming rights to the Watchmen and must have some merit to their argument because Warner was unsuccessful in getting the judge to throw out the legal battle. It would be a real shame if this movie doesn't see the light of day, it's really shaping up to be epic. You can read the article here that also includes Warners response.

A federal judge has denied a Warner Bros motion to dismiss 20th Century Fox's legal battle over the rights to develop, produce and distribute a film based on the graphic novel Watchmen.

[Goodguy818]

Not looking good i was really looking forward to this movie.

[Blu Titan]

It looks like the legal battle could go on for years.

[Downhere]

WB just needs to pony up some cash to Fox so this can be settled then.

[Bizdady]

I smell a big mountain of cash going over towards fox...

[Canada]

Damn it, it was at the top of my must see list for next year.

[Sith]

Please unless a judge tells them they can't release the movie, all that will
happen is Warner will have delays until after the movie comes out, then
go from there....Or if worse comes to worse they'll just cut a check....look
at all the money there saving on there halfa$$ blu ray releases...

[ToEhrIsHuman]

maybe Fox could trade the rights for Watchmen to the WB in exchange for the video release rights to the 60's Batman TV series.

holy super-hero switcheroo, Batman!

POW!

[Sith]

Originally Posted by ToEhrIsHuman

maybe Fox could trade the rights for Watchmen to the WB in exchange for the video release rights to the 60's Batman TV series.

holy super-hero switcheroo, Batman!

POW!

From what i've heard the hold up on releasing those is the guy that did the
music in the t.v. show wants way way to much money....and theres no
way to release the show without the music..

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

I guess Fox is claiming rights to the Watchmen and must have some merit to their argument because Warner was unsuccessful in getting the judge to throw out the legal battle. It would be a real shame if this movie doesn't see the light of day, it's really shaping up to be epic. You can read the article here that also includes Warners response.

Link please?!?!?!?!

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Link please?!?!?!?!

Link is on the word 'here'.

[theprophecy247]

wtf... this is so whack, i was really looking foward to this

[Clark Kent]

Worst case scenario is that Warner pays off Fox or lets Fox get distribution rights in certain territories. This movie will still come out. I repeat there is no chance this movie is going to be locked in a vault never to be seen. There is simply too much money at stake.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Worst case scenario is that Warner pays off Fox or lets Fox get distribution rights in certain territories. This movie will still come out. I repeat there is no chance this movie is going to be locked in a vault never to be seen. There is simply too much money at stake.

You are absolutely possibly right.

Depends on Warner and Fox. These things can get really sticky. Remember how long Spider-man was tied up (of course there wasn't a movie almost competed). I could see Fox paying half of production and them splitting the take (changing it to a co-production). But then again, if Fox thinks a lot of money can be made (seeing the buzz this movie is starting to make) they could be greedy and if they have the right (force an injunction and have the movie shelved and produce there own). Sounds pretty stupid, but that's the America we've created.

[Heart_Collector]

Well, crap. If Fox owned the rights from the get-go, then Warner are the jerks here, but at the same time, after all the struggling to get this movie made, Warner are heroes for getting it done. This sucks, since I'm the only person I know not to have read the novel.

[DavePS3]

This is interesting for those of us who are Watchmen fans...

Fox's 'Watchmen' lawsuit heats up
Judge denies WB's motion to dismiss
By DAVE MCNARY, TATIANA SIEGEL



Fox and WB will continue their balle for 'Watchmen' in court.


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A judge has denied a Warner Bros. motion to dismiss 20th Century Fox’s lawsuit over Warners’ right to make a film based on the graphic novel "Watchmen."
Ruling is potentially a huge victory for Fox, which could wind up as a profit participant in the film, and could cost Warners millions considering the film’s box office prospects. However, Fox’s legal team says it isn’t looking for monetary compensation and instead wants to prevent the big-budget film from being released altogether.

Project, which has been in development for two decades, finally began lensing in September with Zack Snyder at the helm. Warners was set to release the film, which stars Patrick Wilson and Jackie Earle Haley, on March 6 in the same slot in which "300" opened.

At the heart of Fox’s suit, filed in February, is the contention that it never ceded rights to the property. And according to the federal Judge Gary Allen Feess, Fox retained distribution rights to the graphic novel penned by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons through a 1991 claim. Furthermore, Feess appears to agree that under a 1994 turnaround deal with producer Larry Gordon, Gordon acquired an option to acquire Fox’s remaining interest in "Watchmen," which was never exercised, thereby leaving Fox with its rights under the 1994 agreement.

"It is our company’s policy not to comment on pending litigation and thus will not comment on the specifics of this case," Warners said in statement. "That said, the court’s ruling simply means that the parties will engage in discovery and proceed with the litigation. The judge did not opine at all on the merits other than to conclude that Fox satisfied the pleading requirements. We respectfully disagree with Fox’s position and do not believe they have any rights in and to this project."

The court has asked the two parties for expedited discovery; generally the discovery process can take up to two years. Because the film has already wrapped and is dated for spring 2009, the judge wants to move forward quickly.

"Warner Bros.’ production and anticipated release of ‘The Watchmen’ motion picture violates 20th Century Fox’s long-standing motion picture rights in ‘The Watchmen’ property," Fox said in a statement, though the graphic novel’s title is simply "Watchmen."

"We will be asking the court to enforce Fox’s copyright interests in ‘The Watchmen’ and enjoin the release of the Warner Bros. film and any related ‘Watchmen’ media that violate our copyright interests in that property."

Surprisingly, Fox said it would rather see the film killed instead of collecting a percentage of the box office.

"When you have copyright infringement, there are some damages you never recover," said a source close to the litigation.

Fox spent more than $1 million developing "Watchmen" but had not previously taken legal action against the project, which had been in development at Paramount several years ago.

The case resembles to some extent the copyright suit, also involving Warners, over "The Dukes of Hazzard," in which Feess also presided. The studio agreed in 2005 to pay producer Robert B. Clark at least $17.5 million for infringing on the copyright to his 1974 United Artists film "Moonrunners," which became the basis of the Warners TV skein "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Warners settled the "Hazzard" suit while faced with a preliminary injunction, issued by Feess, which would have canceled the release of the feature and seen all copies impounded by federal marshals.

[fatediesel]

I just don't understand how Warner would even start pre-production on a movie without fully owning it's rights, much less finishing the entire big budget movie. Fox is going to make millions off this, even if they say they are only trying to prevent the release. You know there's no way they stop the movie from being released.

[jkwest]

Surprisingly, Fox said it would rather see the film killed instead of collecting a percentage of the box office.

"When you have copyright infringement, there are some damages you never recover," said a source close to the litigation.

Fox spent more than $1 million developing "Watchmen" but had not previously taken legal action against the project, which had been in development at Paramount several years ago.

[Xerios]

Fox has enough common sense to turn this into a money battle, all theyre looking to do is get paid millions in royalties and rights.. which warner will do

[glenn-bob]

by the trailer this movie looks lame anyway.