Often times with comic book movies, we forget about the creators. While the character's creators are usually involved, we forget how they must feel when their creations are toyed with. While we, as movie goers, may be upset about the $10 we spend on a movie, the authors are upset when their babies are used and abused. Case in point, “Ghost Rider” creator Gary Friedrich is suing Marvel Enterprises, Sony Pictures Entertainment and several entities (the ghosts, other than ghost rider, used as the basis for the movie character) for a “joint venture and conspiracy to exploit, profit from and utilize” his copyrights to the comic book, reports Yahoo!
Apparently, Friedrich never heard of Hollywood before the Ghost Rider movie. He claims that Marvel, Sony and others’ failure to capitalize on the character has only damaged the value of his work by failing to properly promote and protect the character. Could the movie have damaged “Ghost Rider’s” third-rate comic book status? If anything, it meant more exposure for a crappy comic book via a crappy movie.
Nevertheless, the lawsuit states:
"Without any compensation to and without any agreement, consent or participation of plaintiff... In late 2006 or early 2007, the defendants herein wrongfully embarked upon a high-profile campaign, arrangement, joint venture and conspiracy to exploit, profit from and utilize plaintiff's copyrights, the Johnny Blaze character and persona, the origin story and the related characters and personas created by plaintiff, in various endeavors, including, but not limited to, the use of the same in movie theater presentations and promotions, commercials, action-figure toys, video games, clothing and novels."
If only we could all sue when Hollywood makes a crappy movie.
