An Open Letter from "Watchmen" Producer

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

Considering that Fox seemed to be the only one who knew they had the theoretical distribution rights, I don't think it's too extreme to think that the producers probably figured WB would be able to do whatever they want, being a part of Time Warner along with DC Comics.

They weren't. Fox made WB well aware. WB chose to ignore Fox's claim.

It wasn't JUST that they passed on this iteration. They have been sitting on this property with absolutely no plans of actually developing it.

They didn't have the rights to make it. Just the rights to distribute it.
The rights to make the film were with the Producer. So they weren't sitting on the property.

Morally speaking, Fox deserves very little here. They've had the rights all of this time and have actively decided not to develop the property.

Again. FOX did not have the rights to make it. Those rights were given up over a decade ago. I believe it was 1995, I'd have to re-read the facts again. All they had was the rights to distribute it. It would be stupid to the extreme if they, as you suggest, started developing a property they didn't have the rights to.

This "warning" should have been the time when legal action was brought. Doing it this late in the game was a tactic to extort money out of WB, because WB has this finished film in their hands and they really must meet a deadline on this thing.

Again. FOX made WB aware of the facts numerous times. WB chose to ignore the facts. Fox couldn't really do anything about it until WB attempted to release the film. Then they were in violation of FOX's ownership of the film's release. It has nothing to do with extorting anything. Just trying to get what is rightly deserved.

Again, legal right and moral right does not always coincide.

Get back to me when someone attempts to screw you out of money you're owed.