The Siegel Superboy and Superman trial dates

[crimsoncing]

The family of one of the creators of SUperman is about to regain the copywrite on him. This is why Disney spent millions trying to get the copywrites extended on Micky Mouse etc etc etc.

When the copywrite expires, the family of the creator gains control of it. SOme of Elvis's 50's songs are now in public domain.

Superman is headed that way and Batman is just around the corner.

More reading on this:
http://trexfiles.com/2007/12/the-siegel-superboy-and-superm.html

[Joel Cairo]

Some of Elvis's 50's songs are now in public domain.



Two things to keep in mind: this copyright expiration is not in effect in the USA (it's a UK statute); and even there, this is true only of released recordings, not the underlying song copyrights-- so music publishing royalties still need to be paid.

-Kevin

[PhantomStranger]

I know the Superboy lawsuit has been holding up any use of him in any form by Warner. It's why he is not part of the Legion of Superheroes cartoon which he should be(they use a "young" Superman instead). I just hope this gets settled soon.

[StyxCollector]

There is, IMHO, a bit of a difference with Batman. Bob Kane has had involvement with the franchise since he left "day to day" duties.

This will be settled out of court. Warner/DC can't afford to lose the marquee of or ongoing revenue genereated by Superman.

[czeskleba]

When the copywrite expires, the family of the creator gains control of it.


This is not true. When the copyright expires, a work enters public domain. For works published between 1923 and 1977, copyright expires 95 years after the date of publication. So unless the law is changed, the first Superman stories will enter public domain in 2033.

What is happening with Superboy is that the law allows a creator (or heirs) a five-year window of opportunity to terminate a transfer of copyright, 56 years after the transfer. In 1947 a judge ruled that Superboy was a separate character from Superman, and Siegel and Shuster sold the character to DC for $100,000. Since it's been 56 years since then, the Siegel heirs are taking action to terminate the transfer of copyright for Superboy.

[crimsoncing]

This is not true. When the copyright expires, a work enters public domain. For works published between 1923 and 1977, copyright expires 95 years after the date of publication. So unless the law is changed, the first Superman stories will enter public domain in 2033.

What is happening with Superboy is that the law allows a creator (or heirs) a five-year window of opportunity to terminate a transfer of copyright, 56 years after the transfer. In 1947 a judge ruled that Superboy was a separate character from Superman, and Siegel and Shuster sold the character to DC for $100,000. Since it's been 56 years since then, the Siegel heirs are taking action to terminate the transfer of copyright for Superboy.

And THIS is why I love this forum. I read that DC has introduced a "different" Superboy..he is called Superboy Prime so that they can keep him in the current comics. I am not up on it but he wears jeans and a black T shirt with the Superman "S" on it. I am more of a Terry Moore/Los Hernadez/Crumb kinda guy. God I would love to have Robert Crumb take over Superman.

[TSmithPage]

Superboy Prime is a "bad guy" from one of DCs current 52 Universes. It's complicated. :) Anyway, I don't see how Superboy Prime is going to help keep the character in current comics. Indeed, Superboy isn't in current continuity anyway, having grown up to be Superman. I don't think comic companies can avoid copyright ramifications simply by changing a character's alter ego and saying, "you can have that Superboy, this is our Superboy now..."

[czeskleba]

Fans speculate that changes being done currently to the Superboy character in the comics are a reaction to the lawsuit, but no one in any official capacity has confirmed that, as far as I know. DC has continued to reprint stories featuring the old Superboy while the suit has gone through the courts, so my guess is that they are not under any legal strictures about what they can do with the character, until the suit is settled.

If the Siegel heirs win, it will be complicated, because DC/WB/AOL or whatever they call themselves now will still hold the trademark for Superman/Superboy, as well as owning many of the characters and concepts introduced later in the comics. My guess is the Siegel heirs would simply work out a licensing agreement allowing DC to continue publishing the character.

[crimsoncing]

I agree. If they do not do this then they would have to shop this around or even (gasp) start their own comic company and i just do not see that much intrest in SUperboy. By alowing DC to keep Superboy and paying a yearly fee would be the best for all around.

[PhantomStranger]

The real money for the Superboy brand would be a movie. Warner could use Superboy right now but management has apparently decided to minimize his use while the lawsuit is going on in various media. My guess is that they want to minimize his brand value for the inevitable payout to Siegel's family.