Stan Lee getting sued again. - by jtr7
jtr7 on 28/1/2009 at 05:09
(
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99895916)
Quote:
Shareholders of an ill-fated Stan Lee venture are seeking more than $750 million in profits from films and other works based on Marvel comic characters such as "Spider-Man," "X-Men" and "Iron Man."
The lawsuit was filed Monday in a Manhattan federal court on behalf of shareholders of Stan Lee Media Inc. Defendants include Lee, his wife, New York-based Marvel Entertainment Inc., and former Marvel chief executive officer Avi Arad.
The suit names four shareholders who live in Florida, California and Canada. Their lawyer, Martin Garbus, said the suit is aimed at reclaiming money for all Stan Lee Media Inc. shareholders.
The lawsuit claims profits from Lee's comic creations belong to the company, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2006. The suit claims Lee, Marvel and others have violated Stan Lee Media's copyright interests and that the firm is due profits from all properties, including blockbuster films that were made after 1998 and based on Lee's creations.
The lawsuit's allegations were immediately rebuffed, with Marvel issuing a statement that said the lawsuit is filled with "ridiculous claims."
Looks like it's a great time to be a corporate lawyer!:D
june gloom on 28/1/2009 at 05:48
Does Stan Lee even know where his bathroom is these days?
Queue on 28/1/2009 at 14:52
... where ever Spiderman 3 was shown?
Matthew on 28/1/2009 at 15:31
I think the status of Lee's ownership of the characters created during his Marvel tenure is a bit murky, but I'm pretty sure Marvel made the case that they were transferred to that company decades ago, with Lee being entitled to profit participation by way of creator's rights. Of course, with all the bankruptcies Marvel and SLM have been through it could get muddy.
PeeperStorm on 29/1/2009 at 02:44
Excelsior!