What happens when Superman goes public?

What happens when Superman goes public?

What happens when Superman goes public?

In the next decade, DC Comics is in danger of losing the exclusive rights to three of its most famous heroes!

laws public domain allow a character, work or artwork to no longer be associated with a single brand and can be used by anyone. However, there are a number of rules for this. Under US law, any work created before 1978 must 95 years old until it enters the public domain, which could jeopardize sovereignty Warner And dc comics about your greatest heroes.

To make it all clear super man was established in 1938. Batman appeared in 1939, and in 1941 we saw the history of the presentation amazing woman. Since the current law states that the public domain enters into force on January 1st of the year following the 95th anniversary of the work, we know that dc comics will lose Trinity’s exclusive rights to films, comics and other media in 2034, 2035 and 2037 respectively.

In doing so, other studios, producers, and even fans will be able to use the characters indiscriminately, just as it already happens with many other works, such as, for example, books. Jules Vernecreations HP Lovecraft and even works like Winnie the Pooh — which even won a recent horror movie thanks to its entry into the public domain.

So what exactly can happen to the heroes dc comics?

While the subject is unknown, since even dc comics knows how to handle the public domain of his most famous characters. According to lawyers interviewed business insider and copyright experts, it could be that a publisher decides that 1938’s Superman isn’t what we know him to be today.

In my first comics Clark Kent did not fly. Instead, he just jumped very high, and the idea of ​​flying came to him only after a long time. For this reason, it is likely that when it enters the public domain, any figure working on Superman will not be able to use elements later incorporated into the hero’s mythology. Thus, he can’t have underwear over his pants, or even his red and yellow symbol like in the current comics.

But for now, it all depends on the entry (or not) of another very popular character into the public domain.

Mickey will soon become public.

Launched in 1928, Steamboat Willie was a short animated film produced by Walt Disneywhich presented Mickey Mouse to the world. Under current law, the short will enter the public domain in 1924 and therefore Mickey will no longer be an exclusive figure. Disney.

For several years now, the studio has been using its economic power to lobby in favor of changing the public domain law so that his most famous character cannot be used by studios and artists other than himself Disney.

However, this onslaught of the company caused a lot of controversy in the United States. According to an article written Los Angeles Times dated May 2022, some Republican lawmakers on the left and right tried to stop Disney changing laws or even extending copyright protection.

The whole question is quite complicated, since never before in the history of human art has there been a character or work that has lasted more than 95 years, been so popular and brought so much money to its owners. Because of this, if mickey does fall into the public domain, there are enough precedents for heroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to stop being brand exclusive as well dc comics And Warner Bros..

And this can directly affect the development of future films of these characters. During a recent presentation in which he talked about his ten year plan for the universe ANNOUNCEMENT to the cinema, James Gunn was interviewing reporters and was asked about the idea of ​​making Superman into the public domain (via comic):

Well, first of all, this is a rather difficult question. It is not something clear and definite. There’s a lot of technical stuff involved here that goes into the public domain that you may or may not know about. This. But there is also one of the reasons why we have Superman and why we make Power popular. I mean, who would have thought 11 years ago that two of the most popular rides in the world would be Guardians of the Galaxy. Two of the world’s most popular landmarks are based on a comic book that only 20,000 people knew about. And then we can create these other properties, use our Diamonds, our Batman, our Superman, our Wonder Woman, and also use our Gold Enhancer, or our Green Lanterns, or our Plastic Men, or whatever is important.”

However, there is something that could determine the course of this legal battle. In the USA there is a difference between Copyright (Copyright) And trademark rights (trademark). While Copyright protects the work as a physical and figurative sign, trademark advocates something more conceptual: form styleand how the public perception of this brand works.

Given that Mickey Mouse is the main “face” disney, just like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman represent a legacy dc comicsit is possible that the laws concerning trademark offer an outlet for companies to continue to own their rights. However, only time will tell.

Superman: Legacy debut in July 2025.

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