http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/09/marvel-demands-for-gary-friedrichs-ghost-rider-prints/
The creator of Ghost Rider, who is destitute after creating a character who has made millions for its Publisher, just lost a lawsuit over the rights to said character.
Not only is he not allowed to…
Christ, what bullshit.
I’m going to say a true thing which is where I am putting all my hope in this situation. I know for a fact that in the past, Marvel has quietly helped some creators in these situations. They just can’t always publicize it for legal reasons.
I am absolutely certain no one in Marvel editorial wants to make a struggling, classic creator want to pay back money for pennies he scraped together after years of going to conventions. But legal teams, who knows what they are thinking.
I am hoping with all my might that Marvel looks at this and at the very least forgives that debt. If they won’t, I will do everything I can to help raise the money so Mr. Friedrich isn’t crushed by this completely punishing debt.
Please, Marvel, do the right thing. I know you are good people with good hearts and I know you don’t want to do this.
Speaking as an outsider who sees these situations crop up again and again — is there something lacking in the contracts of creators that should be established so this doesn’t happen? Is it the fee-for-service thing? Contracts signed for too long of periods of time which do not take into consideration new developments in the law, the business, or technology? A contract signed in good faith decades ago, may not be interpreted by the new administration the same way it was when it was negotiated. Do comic creators have agents that look out for things such as this?
I’ve heard it said that Bob Kane saw the deal that Siegel & Shuster got and negotiated for something much, much better. That was over a half century ago.
Could you steer me to some research on the subject?
It was a different time. Some creators were able to get special deals, most were not. Gary claims that his Ghost Rider deal was different from purely work for hire.
Marvel used to put on the back of their paychecks that any work they paid for, they owned forever in all ways. So if you wanted to pay your house payment, you had to sign that check. No one thought there would be 200 million dollar films for Wolverine at that time.
But even if you agree with Marvel that they own the character, this judgment is punitive and cruel. I am hoping that they understand that before it’s too late.
