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DC Comics vs Chris Wozniak! Corporate greed???18876

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The Fifth Golden Girl 48.47K	48.47K sborock private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 19
	Sounds to me like corporate greed. Sorry he is going through this. Plus Warner Bros has a ton of money! I hope there will either be a settlement in his favor before it cost him too much money in lawyer/court fees or he just wins if they choose to keep sueing him. That's just the hippy in me, as I feel deep down inside that he might lose, but I want to hope (beleive) that most people will do the correct thing at the end of the day, but that's just me. Shame.... https://www.gofundme.com/f/dc-comics-vs-chris-wozniak?member=23686545&utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined&fbclid=IwAR3sM-SdvYJyTlwDbwXatHOtQfaOxICOb663l_dITMDEs5TlncxTFeCutfQ
	2 years ago	Post 1 • IP flag post

" . " 17.41K	17.41K Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 4
	I have an opinion on the legal merits but won’t elaborate on the forum. As for moral opinion, I think they should have cut him a small check with an NDA attached.
	2 years ago	Post 2 • IP flag post

Collector 501	501 grapeape private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	This is novel scum baggery of a dizzying kind. Amazing how creative lawyers and corporations can get when their are no souls in the way to hinder them. My prayers are with Chris he absolutely must prevail. I'm not buying DC Comics I'll tell you that much.
	2 years ago	Post 3 • IP flag post

past performance is no guarantee of future actions. 31.6K	31.6K KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 2
	Quote: Originally Posted by Davethebrave I have an opinion on the legal merits but won’t elaborate on the forum. As for moral opinion, I think they should have cut him a small check with an NDA attached. I have no legal opinions but 100% agree - add his name to the credits and $$$ with NDA
	2 years ago	Post 4 • IP flag post

" . " 17.41K	17.41K Davethebrave private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 1
	Will add one thing. Corporate greed is not the likely culprit here. It is more corporate fear. Similar reason you see warning signs across coffee cups and fine print at the bottom of every TV ad.
	2 years ago	Post 5 • IP flag post

The Fifth Golden Girl 48.47K	48.47K sborock private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 12
	@Davethebrave "Corporate greed is not the likely culprit here. It is more corporate fear" I can see that....BUT most, not all, corporations only care about their bottom line and not people.
	2 years ago	Post 6 • IP flag post

Forum Crier 55.34K	55.34K OGJackster private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	For many years I've felt DC has been mismanaged. Story lines, characters being changed, movie attempts. They just can't seem to get it right. And now this I wonder...
	2 years ago	Post 7 • IP flag post

How do I know this? Because I've done it myself. 7.74K	7.74K lawguy1977 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 11
	I'm not saying Wozniak didn't have his material stolen or plagiarized, but he did sue Warner Brothers for the copyright infringement earlier this year. https://boundingintocomics.com/2022/11/16/penciler-chris-wozniak-takes-warner-bros-to-court-for-the-batman-plagiarism-accusations/ So he definitely is poking the bear. It's not a surprise that DC is counter-suing him. It's a very standard tactic, especially in these types of cases. It's a very interesting case, and Wozniak definitely is taking on a giant corporation, which is no small (or cheap) feat. Personally, in my experience, it would not be surprising to me at all if Warner Brothers used his story and never paid him. It also is a big fight to pick if you don't have the evidence to support your case, and if Wozniak loses, he can be personally responsible for thousands in attorney's fees and costs. Creators have had to fight for decades in this industry for compensation and recognition for their work. That being said, it's also my experience to wait for the evidence to come to light. Right now, you just have each side making their allegations in public.
	2 years ago	Post 8 • IP flag post

Feel free to use my post as a checklist. 4.29K	4.29K multi007 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	Sounds similar to the Paramount/Eddie Murphy plagiarism case of the movie Coming to America. The writer, Mr Buckwald, who wrote the movie, sent it in to Paramount. A few years later, it was made into a movie. No contracts, no agreements, no credits, no payments. Buckwald sued. Won. In lieu of appealing, Paramount settled for 900k US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buchwald_v._Paramount This all boils down to - can this writer Wozniak prove that his writings was the Batman movie? (Lots of singers have been sued - and lost - for using other people's songs). As for the countersuit - Writing a script involving copyrighted characters isnt a violation. Until its published, or he earns something of value from it, it's call "fan fiction" and is legal under first amendment right of expression.
	2 years ago	Post 9 • IP flag post

Staple topics, nice. 3.13K	3.13K makahuka private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 6
	Read this a bit ago. - https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comic-book-publishers-not-paying-comic-book-creators/
	2 years ago	Post 10 • IP flag post

Collector 3.45K	3.45K SpiderTim private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	wtf???
	2 years ago	Post 11 • IP flag post

Captain Accident 11.49K	11.49K the420bandito private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	I guess it can work both ways. I'm still waiting for a commission I paid $700 for in June 2021 from a well known artist (hint: LG). Funny part - I check his IG and he is posting convention sketchs, commissions, etc. How long should I wait? Should I sue for non-delivery of goods?
	2 years ago	Post 12 • IP flag post

Please continue to ignore anything I post. 34.15K	34.15K southerncross private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	@the420bandito should of just paid a deposit in the first place. Paying in full upfront gives the person not much incentive to get around and doing the job. Like tradespeople. Pay a deposit and regular payments as the work is done and final payment at the completion.
	2 years ago	Post 13 • IP flag post

I'm waiting.... (tapping fingers). Splotches is gettin old! 20.83K	20.83K Nuffsaid111 private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	Quote: Originally Posted by the420bandito I'm still waiting for a commission I paid $700 for in June 2021 My world record is waiting 6 years. Yes, 6 years for a commission from a legend in the industry since the 60's.
	2 years ago	Post 14 • IP flag post

Ima gonna steal this and look for some occasion to use it! 6.26K	6.26K IronMan private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 13
	Well, I'll just say it out loud since I've already said - several days ago - on Facebook the same thing. I'm skeptical of Wozniak's claims. To begin with, Wozniak initially started Patreon and Indiegogo solicitations under the name of Batmangate, asking for donations. He said on those fundraising sites that he was unlikely to ever get money out of Warner/DC so was asking fans to compensate him. But he took down those two fund raisers and started the GoFundMe - now claiming Warner/DC was suing him. But so far no one has been able to confirm that Warner/DC is suing Wozniak, while his suit against Warner/DC is viewable. IT IS NOT standard practice for publishers and studios to accept unsolicited manuscripts or story ideas. In fact it is just the opposite. And the reason why is lawsuits. Accept an unsolicited story outline or manuscript - and that submission has some similarities to something already planned or done in the future - and here comes the lawyers and lawsuits. So they just don't. The legal risks are too high. This is why Wozniak says his lawyer is asking for other pros and freelancers working for DC during the time in question to confirm his claim that DC had an open door send us stories policy. It seems a huge stretch that DC/Warner sat Wozniak's unsolicited story outline for 30+ years just to use it uncredited in a movie. What is FAR MORE LIKELY is the story outline went - unread - in the shredder like all the other unsolicited proposals they received. Then it was COINCIDENCE that decades later a script was developed for a Batman movie that had a few similarities. Here is a Bleeding Cool article that presents a bit more balanced overview, versus just repeating Wozniak's claims https://bleedingcool.com/comics/chris-wozniak-starts-a-gofundme-claiming-dc-comics-is-suing-him/?fbclid=IwAR1Z9jMo9SpPQuK_99F2GF6qdnUbRhMBv0LaMobOUSvh9UaZpTpXV1sLQvM
	2 years ago	Post 15 • IP flag post

To answer your question, no, this is not where the comics go to die. 6.09K	6.09K MutantMania private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 3
	I thought he was the Apple computer guy
	2 years ago	Post 16 • IP flag post

Masculinity takes a holiday. 37.37K	37.37K EbayMafia private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 6
	Quote: Originally Posted by IronMan I'm skeptical of Wozniak's claims. As am I. The whole "someone close to Batman was attacked and Batman found out after the fact" idea seems a bit to general to give credit to an unsolicited script submitted 20+ years ago.
	2 years ago	Post 17 • IP flag post

PLOD 2.6K	2.6K theCapraAegagrus private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 6
	Quote: Originally Posted by OGJackster It would be the death of comic-related media.
	2 years ago	Post 18 • IP flag post

past performance is no guarantee of future actions. 31.6K	31.6K KatKomics private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	Quote: Originally Posted by OGJackster For many years I've felt DC has been mismanaged. Story lines, characters being changed, movie attempts. They just can't seem to get it right. And now this I wonder... Well.... DC is tanking on their own quite well...no need for the Disney/Marvel/Star Wars treatment on top of that!
	2 years ago	Post 19 • IP flag post

Collector 250	250 SGT_Comics private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 5
	Quote: Originally Posted by IronMan IT IS NOT standard practice for publishers and studios to accept unsolicited manuscripts or story ideas. In fact it is just the opposite. And the reason why is lawsuits. Accept an unsolicited story outline or manuscript - and that submission has some similarities to something already planned or done in the future - and here comes the lawyers and lawsuits. So they just don't. The legal risks are too high. As far as this goes, I think this is why Wozniak makes it clear he's referring to "established freelancers" were able to submit pitches, not just the man on the street. People already known to be working in the comics industry have a different relationship with the publishers. For instance, the seminal Kraven's Last Hunt storyline is well-known to have originally been a Batman story that DeMattteis offered (as an unsolicited manuscript) to DC, but DC didn't pick it up. He altered it a little and offered it to Marvel (as an unsolicited manuscript) and they got it.
	2 years ago	Post 20 • IP flag post

Ima gonna steal this and look for some occasion to use it! 6.26K	6.26K IronMan private msg quote post Address this user	plus 1 plus 1 plus 1 0
	Quote: Originally Posted by SGT_Comics Quote: Originally Posted by IronMan IT IS NOT standard practice for publishers and studios to accept unsolicited manuscripts or story ideas. In fact it is just the opposite. And the reason why is lawsuits. Accept an unsolicited story outline or manuscript - and that submission has some similarities to something already planned or done in the future - and here comes the lawyers and lawsuits. So they just don't. The legal risks are too high. As far as this goes, I think this is why Wozniak makes it clear he's referring to "established freelancers" were able to submit pitches, not just the man on the street. People already known to be working in the comics industry have a different relationship with the publishers. For instance, the seminal Kraven's Last Hunt storyline is well-known to have originally been a Batman story that DeMattteis offered (as an unsolicited manuscript) to DC, but DC didn't pick it up. He altered it a little and offered it to Marvel (as an unsolicited manuscript) and they got it. If true (not everything well known is true) then this is exactly the type of information Wozniak's lawyer seeks. Writers that can state they have first hand knowledge and experience that DC did have an open door policy for established freelancers to submit unsolicited story outlines.
	2 years ago	Post 21 • IP flag post

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Quote:

Originally Posted by IronMan
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGT_Comics
Quote:
Originally Posted by IronMan

IT IS NOT standard practice for publishers and studios to accept unsolicited manuscripts or story ideas. In fact it is just the opposite. And the reason why is lawsuits. Accept an unsolicited story outline or manuscript - and that submission has some similarities to something already planned or done in the future - and here comes the lawyers and lawsuits. So they just don't. The legal risks are too high.

As far as this goes, I think this is why Wozniak makes it clear he's referring to "established freelancers" were able to submit pitches, not just the man on the street. People already known to be working in the comics industry have a different relationship with the publishers. For instance, the seminal Kraven's Last Hunt storyline is well-known to have originally been a Batman story that DeMattteis offered (as an unsolicited manuscript) to DC, but DC didn't pick it up. He altered it a little and offered it to Marvel (as an unsolicited manuscript) and they got it.

If true (not everything well known is true) then this is exactly the type of information Wozniak's lawyer seeks. Writers that can state they have first hand knowledge and experience that DC did have an open door policy for established freelancers to submit unsolicited story outlines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia
In the mid-1980s, John Marc DeMatteis proposed a Wonder Man limited series involving the latter's half-brother, the Grim Reaper, in which Wonder Man is buried and ultimately crawls out of the grave. Tom DeFalco turned down the proposal. Years later, DeMatteis reworked the scene of a hero coming out of the grave into a Batman story exploring what would happen if the Joker actually killed Batman. According to DeMatteis, it would effectively turn the Joker "sane". When DeMatteis pitched the story to DC, however, it was rejected because it happened to be somewhat similar to Batman: The Killing Joke, another Batman story that was in development at the time. DeMatteis then reworked the story to use Hugo Strange in place of the Joker, but this, too, was rejected. Finally, DeMatteis pitched the idea again to Marvel, this time with Spider-Man and a new villain he came up with specifically for the story. Marvel editorial accepted the revised proposal.

Sources:
Comics Interview. No. 40
"In Our Sights: Kraven's Last Hunt". Back Issue!. No. 35

Here's J.M. DeMetteis explaining it at Cincinnati Comic Con:

2 years ago

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