Merry Christmas Watchmen fans, you’re screwed. The ongoing legal battle between Warner Bros. and Fox over the rights to the already finished Watchmen film was supposed to be settled after the New Year, but out of nowhere (on New Year’s Eve no less) a Federal Judge decided to settle the whole thing by handing the rights to the movie over to Fox. That’s right, Fox. You remember Fox? They’re the studio whose lawyers, back in August when this whole thing started heating up, said their only goal was to keep the film from being released. Fox has made it clear they aren’t in it for the money, only to keep you from seeing Watchmen.
It looks like Fox now has the legal power to make that happen. According to the NY Times the court’s ruling says, “Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the ‘Watchmen’ motion picture.” One would presume that also gives them the right not to distribute it. Though the Times story suggests that Fox could end up as a profit participant, it seems Fox indeed still maintains that it isn’t interested in money and only wants to keep the movie from being released.
After sending Watchmen into a black hole the judge did suggest that both parties look for a settlement to find some resolution. There’s also room here for an appeal by Warner Bros. I know everyone (except Fox) has been adamant all along that the movie will be released on schedule, but come on this has to at least delay it some doesn’t it? Who watches the Watchmen? Maybe nobody.
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Merry Christmas Watchmen fans, you’re screwed. The ongoing legal battle between Warner Bros. and Fox over the rights to the already finished Watchmen film was supposed to be settled after the New Year, but out of nowhere (on New Year’s Eve no less) a Federal Judge decided to settle the whole thing by handing the rights to the movie over to Fox. That’s right, Fox. You remember Fox? They’re the studio whose lawyers, back in August when this whole thing started heating up, said their only goal was to keep the film from being released. Fox has made it clear they aren’t in it for the money, only to keep you from seeing Watchmen.
