Dec 25, 2008 by Mushy

Judge Rules in Fox's Favor Over Watchmen Movie

In a story from The New York Times, it appears that judge Gary A. Feess has sided with 20th Century Fox in their copyright claim regarding the Watchmen movie.

The film was made as a co-venture by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Feess's decision came down Wednesday in the United States District Court for Central California.

Fox has been trying to stop Warner Bros. from releasing the movie which was directed by Zack Snyder. The film is slated for release on March 6, 2009.

Originally, Feess felt that the copyright issue between Fox and Warner Bros. would be settled through a trial. Now Feess feels "that Fox should prevail on crucial issues."

"Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the Watchmen motion picture," Feess's ruling said.

Fox picked up to the rights to the Watchmen graphic novel in the 1980s with Lawrence Gordon on board as producer. Fox eventually moved on and Gordon set the property up with Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

"The parties may wish to turn their efforts from preparing for trial to negotiating a resolution of this dispute or positioning the case for review," Feess stated.

Watchmen was released March 6th, 2009 and stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer. The film is directed by Zack Snyder.


Sources: The New York Times

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Comments (49)

  1. -comrade-

    Fox is guilty of entrapment.

    3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag

  2. darknight2183

    People need to realize that the movie will be released just at a later date but the fact that Fox did this was dumb. I think they needed a good movie to bring in some cash for 09 other than Wolverine. I mean Dragonball and Street Fighter was never going to bring in any money. But now it really wont because of the future boycotts of all Fox films.

    3 years agoby @darknight2183Flag

  3. Structure (ONSTRA)

    no no no super santa it doesn't show up unless you put for it to show up. but then it'll show your name to public mine is also "undercoverd" lolll. but it's defffinitely on the list.

    3 years agoby @gaj1992Flag

  4. T.Clark

    Mine didn't show up...that's sh*t

    3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  5. Structure (ONSTRA)

    thanks for both chad vital and Supersanta for signing.

    3 years agoby @gaj1992Flag

  6. T.Clark

    Totally signed it

    3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag

  7. Marcus-07

    Motherfocker!!! I don't care about Watchmen but this is just mean...Bad Fox! I hate it since they wanted make Wolverine:Origins to movie for kids...Argh! F*ck them!

    3 years agoby @marcus-07Flag

  8. Chad Vital

    I voted

    3 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag

  9. Structure (ONSTRA)

    people people people we need your votes now.
    you hate fox's ability to do sh*t:PLZ sign this petition
    I didn't make it but I did sign it also. wish this could work.
    http://www.petitiononline.com/Watchmen/petition.html
    PLZ ANSWER FOR THE SAKE OF THIS MOVIE.

    3 years agoby @gaj1992Flag

  10. Moviemaster75

    oh oh oh I've seen this before, ok, the jury is bribed by a guy named "Capola" he is a gang boss lord guy, so another guy Elliot Ness finds the bribing paper and gives it to the judge and theres a hearing the the other room so they bring thst jury in the then Capola's lawyer plez guilty! lol, thays how The Untouchables ends lolz

    3 years agoby @moviemaster75Flag

  11. J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director

    It seems now that due to this bare people are going to boycot this movie.

    What once seemed as an impossible graphic novel to envision on to screen and the film that was hailed to be Dark Knight of 2009, has invitably gone to the gutters.
    Many people aint actually planning to see it now but watch an online copy, especially fans.
    Why did FUX do this, just because they didn't make it and thought it seemed impossible, they have to try and take props for work that another 'better' studio did.

    Dissssssp*cable

    3 years agoby @chronicFlag

  12. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    F*ck FOX and their sh*tty movies

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  13. spideykea

    I bet the cast is dissappointed about this, too. I think WB has more on there side anyway.

    3 years agoby @spideykeaFlag

  14. -comrade-

    A friend of mine suggested that WB "accidentally" leak the movie before FUX can get their hands on it.

    3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag

  15. Structure (ONSTRA)

    FOX SUCKS SUCKS.
    WOW amazing not even one comment on this is a good comment for fox. i think this should be taken in considiration. let's put a petition on here. lol. i think this should work. loll

    3 years agoby @gaj1992Flag

  16. -comrade-

    FOX is guilty of entrapment. Pure and simple. It was public knowledge that WB was making a Watchmen movie, and FUX waited for them to do it, then sprung their suit. FUX, eat ALL the dicks.

    3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag

  17. Shadow Of The Day

    Go to hell Fox.

    3 years agoby @asifFlag

  18. film_guy47

    shove it up your ass Fox.

    3 years agoby @film-guy47Flag

  19. Chad Vital

    WB makes better movies, so Fox wants to put their name on it cause it looks like it will be good. Nothing more. See now, if it looked like complete sh*t they wouldn't have even bothered with this lawsuit cause they wouldn't want their name on it. If somebody takes your idea and makes it better, than in all fairness, kudos to them since you didn't originally make it better before they took it on. For example, if they would have started filming it (Fox that is) and then Warner Bros. started filming afterwards I could see that being f*cked up and a problem. If you're not gonna do sh*t with things that you own that will make money, I say somebody else (like WB) should take your sh*t, and do it themselves since Fox has just been sitting on their ass pooping out lesser quality films. Fox is just jealous and trying to f*ck over WB making a potentially good Watchmen movie, and are upset cause Fox won't get off their lazy asses and make a Watchmen movie, instead steal what WB organized, produced and casted etc. So I say f*ck Fox. They didn't do a damn f*cking thing but piss off fans and moviegoers and countless WB personel who worked very hard on Watchmen. That's f*cked up. The judge is probably in his 60s, who has no taste in films or how much hard work WB and co. put into the movie, so they will let Fox win and reap all the benefits? How is that fair?

    3 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag

  20. OtisDriftwood990

    This is monumentally terrible news. Does Fox know that everybody hates them?

    3 years agoby @otisdriftwood990Flag

  21. ed_wood

    Please, just don't change the release date.

    3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  22. darknight2183

    I thought WB own rights to all DC films I never seen one movie distributed by FOX that was a DC comic film. Any way I hope there is no delay. Also does this affect Snyder and the cast?

    3 years agoby @darknight2183Flag

  23. J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director

    i say we say f*ck fox, don't go see it on the cinema and wait for the f*cking Synder Cut where the profit should go to Warner & Legendry.

    Give them the profits to the thetrical cut on cinema and after 2 weeks on cinema.
    Release the director's cut with the additional 35mins with all profits profits going to Warner and legendery.

    3 years agoby @chronicFlag

  24. keyman15

    If Feess want to live to see another day he will give everything to warner and legendary.

    3 years agoby @keyman15Flag

  25. Love & Napalm

    I've always had a very low opinion of Fox's politics. In all the years I've worked in cinemas (17 years and counting now) they've always been *ssholes to try and work with. They think they're gods gift to the film industry and that really pisses me off! The policy's they place on films when you book them can be quite ridiculous, especially on smaller cinemas.

    Go to hell Fox!!!

    3 years agoby @zomb13Flag

  26. outlaw Returns

    I think we can all agree to tell Fox to f*ck themselves with the help of judge Feess!F*CK!

    3 years agoby @memo17Flag

  27. Vamp

    To quote John Hammond from Michael Crichton's critically acclaimed novel, "Jurassic Park:"

    OH BALLS!

    Seriously, though, this REALLY SUCKS!

    3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag

  28. The Narrator: The Better Man

    Comrade, its in quotes from a movie I saw, the other nite, but I forgot who says it, so then, i just put quotes. Lol.

    3 years agoby @narratorFlag

  29. MC Legendary

    if i don't see The Watchmen on march 6th im going to fight everyone who is associated with Fox!!

    3 years agoby @normanse7enFlag

  30. GK

    i agree with Foy: Rorschach.

    3 years agoby @indianajonesFlag

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