Stan Lee Media Inc Continue Battle To Reclaim Conan Rights; Company Accused Of "Ambush"!

Stan Lee Media Inc Continue Battle To Reclaim Conan Rights; Company Accused Of "Ambush"!

Stan Lee Media Inc (who are no longer associated with the legendary comic book creator they share the name of) are still seeking to reclaim the rights to "Conan" despite accusations that this move is an "ambush" and "untimely"...

By JoshWilding - Oct 10, 2011 09:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Conan
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Back in August, Stan Lee Media Inc. filed a lawsuit in order to reclaim the rights of the "Conan" character most recently seen played by Jason Momoa in this years Conan the Barbarian 3D. The company was founded by Lee, but now operates independently. (back when this news first broke, many assumed it was "The Man" himself was the one seeking the rights)

The Hollywood Reporter reveal that SLMI are hoping to reclaim the rights as they now have a court recognized board of directors. The current owners say it's too late for that, as do Marvel who the company are also pursuing in an attempt to convince judges that rights to those characters were unlawfully transferred by Lee. As for "Conan", the lawsuit is being aimed against Conan Sales Co., Paradox Entertainment, and others who aided the allegedly improper transfer of Conan in 2002. Here are some further excerpts from their report.

Back then, a bankruptcy judge stopped transfer of SLMI assets, but allowed Conan Sales Co. to reclaim the character it once held per a "Settlement Approval Order." Now, in the current lawsuit, SLMI says the judge's order should be declared void because 1,800 SLMI shareholders were not provided sufficient notice.

Last week, the defendants moved to dismiss the lawsuit on a variety of points, but especially because the complaint was served on an "untimely" basis. The motion to dismiss says that SLMI had an opportunity to challenge the order during the bankruptcy process and failed to do so. The defendants argue that the Bankruptcy Code doesn't require notices to shareholders, and that the bankruptcy judge had found a notice of a hearing to be sufficient. In order for SLMI to win, the defendants say that their adversary needs to show that a fraud on the court was perpetrated, and nothing in SLMI's "vague" allegations meet that standard, they say. Instead, the defendants believe that the lawsuit to reclaim Conan upon the film's release was an "ambush" that was "intended to, and did, embarrass" defendants at a "very important time."


At this point, things don't look too good for SLMI, with a dismissal having been requested due to the lack of any substantial allegations and the fact that it would cause the company who have spent all this time bringing the character back to the big screen, "substantial undue prejudice." Of course, Conan the Barbarian 3D was far from a financial hit, ultimately grossing less than $50 million worldwide on a reported budget of $90 million. Right now, it doesn't seem as if SLMI are bothered about that as the battle rages on...







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REMY1
REMY1 - 10/10/2011, 9:18 AM
Who cares?
HULK2099
HULK2099 - 10/10/2011, 9:24 AM
who remembers when conan was marvel comics :D
niknik
niknik - 10/10/2011, 9:34 AM
Where is the estate of Robert E. Howard in all this? Shouldn't they own the rights?
Greengo
Greengo - 10/10/2011, 9:45 AM
Well thanks for the clarification.

Er' body was ridiculing 'The Man' last time.... looks like he ain't got nothing to do with it.
CaptainAmerica1
CaptainAmerica1 - 10/10/2011, 9:55 AM
The rights should go to R.E Howard estate, then they do what they want with it.
Talontd
Talontd - 10/10/2011, 9:59 AM
Fcuking NISPEL, he's right down there with UWE BOLL as far as i'm concerned...
headlopper
headlopper - 10/10/2011, 10:43 AM
Doesn't Dark Horse Comics have a say in this?
How are they publishing the property without hassle?
RyanLantern77
RyanLantern77 - 10/10/2011, 11:10 AM
I didn't read the article, I don't give two shits about anything involving this movie.
CrowPirate1
CrowPirate1 - 10/10/2011, 11:35 AM
God was mentioned in a reprint of the bible..

but.. the Punisher damned him in recent issue..

get ready for another Rumbleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Ichaos
Ichaos - 10/11/2011, 4:32 AM
Conan the Lawyer

Conan the Law suit

Conan the late night talk show host
Ichaos
Ichaos - 10/11/2011, 4:34 AM
@CrowPirate1 I am pretty sure a book a few thousand years old has entered into public domain. Besides they forgot to post the copyright
Taranaich
Taranaich - 10/11/2011, 6:31 AM
"Howard and the publishing company neglected to renew it's copyright in the 30's"

Wha? Howard created Conan in the '30s, why on earth would he have to renew the copyrights then?

Regardless, Stan Lee Media Inc has absolutely no legal leg to stand on, what with them never having anything to do with Conan in the first place.
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