2004 Movie News Archives
August 4, 2004: Battle For Superman/Superboy Rights Continues
Newsarama have picked up the trail on the battle for Copyright control of Superman which raged as one of the most discussed topics on this website a few years ago. It seems the focus in the Superman copyright case has shifted from Superman to Superboy, and the battle for the right to Superman is joined by a Shuster. Here's an excerpt from the indepth article posted at Newsarama.com...
- With the bubbling finally coming to a boil, there have been several recent developments in the matter regarding the rights to Superman, and his creators (represented by their heirs and in one case, widow). Long-time readers will recall that in 1998, the widow and daughter of Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel filed paperwork terminating the transfer of copyright for Superman that the creators made to DC Comics. Reportedly, the Siegels were in negotiation with DC in regards to the rights, and those negotiations were never settled, and the rights to Superman are still in dispute.
Now, add the boy. The Superboy, that is. According to various sources, Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson filed paperwork to terminate the transfer of copyright for Superboy. The paperwork was filed in November of 2002. Given the mandatory two years' notice, the termination will be fully effective on November 17, 2004.
The case made for Superboy dates back to the early '40s, when Jerry Siegel created and submitted the idea of a Superman spin-off, Superboy to DC Comics. DC did not act to publish or further develop the character until Siegel was drafted into service in World War II, a time during which, Siegel often stated, he in no way could protect his interests in the character(s) he'd created.
While both Siegel and Shuster had come to feel extremely disenfranchised by DC over the course of Superman's career (neither ever received an accounting o f how much revenue the character brought in for DC throughout the '40s), the creation (with no credit given to him) of Superboy was too much for Siegel, who filed suit against DC, and won in 1947, with the judge in the case stating that DC Comics acted illegally (DC claimed that Superboy was in reality, simply Superman, and was therefore the same character created by Siegel, and the creator was owed nothing).
While the court agreed with Siegel and Shuster, the creators sold the rights to the character back to DC for $100,000 (given that the court ruled Siegel to be the creator, the sale was in fact, a transfer of the copyright). The Siegels have moved to terminate that transfer of copyright, which will take effect in November.
2004 Movie News
Listed below are all the Movie News items archived for 2004 organized into 5 categories:New “Superman” Movie News:
- January 14, 2004: Superman in Sydney? Selma Blair for Lois?
- January 17, 2004: Wolfgang Peterson Replacing McG?
- January 18, 2004: Ashton Kutcher Wants to be Superman?
- January 18, 2004: JJ Abrams Talks Superman Movie
- January 20, 2004: Superman Confirmed to Shoot in Sydney Australia?
- January 21, 2004: Martin Henderson Approached for Superman Movie
- January 28, 2004: Beyonce and Depp in New Superman Movie?
- January 29, 2004: Beyonce NOT Lois Lane
- February 4, 2004: Bruce Willis as Lex Luthor?
- February 7, 2004: Beyonce Wants to be Lois Lane
- February 18, 2004: Mark Millar Says McG Superman Movie Won't Happen
- March 7, 2004: Allison Mack Talks Superman Movie
- March 14, 2004: Jimmy Olsen Casting Rumor
- March 18, 2004: Tatopoulos Says Superman Movie Back On Again
- April 13, 2004: McG Makes Superman Movie Presentation to WB Execs
- May 10, 2004: AICN Rumors on Superman Movie
- May 19, 2004: Stan Winston to Create Superman Movie Costume?
- May 20, 2004: Special Effects Team Chosen for Superman Movie?
- May 20, 2004: Donner Against Making a New Superman Movie
- May 24, 2004: Superman Movie Special Effects and Costume Designer Rumors Confirmed
- May 25, 2004: Superman Movie Ready to Fly?
- May 26, 2004: More Superman Movie Rumors
- June 1, 2004: Superman Movie Tidbits
- June 2, 2004: Warning! False Tom Welling Report!
- June 9, 2004: Superman Homepage Staff on Superman Movie
- June 9, 2004: Superman in Sydney
- June 9, 2004: Tom Welling NOT Testing for Superman Movie
- June 15, 2004: McG's Uncertain Interview About Superman Movie
- June 17, 2004: Superman Movie Ready to Take Off
- June 18, 2004: Vin Diesel for Lex Luthor?
- June 23, 2004: The Many (Possible) Faces of Superman
- June 28, 2004: McG Out, Bay In?
- July 2, 2004: Michael Bay Not Directing Superman
- July 9, 2004: Singer on Superman? LaBeouf as Jimmy?
- July 12, 2004: McG Confirms His Departure
- July 18, 2004: “X-Men” Director to Take on Superman Franchise
- July 20, 2004: John Ottman to Edit and Score Superman Movie
- July 21, 2004: LA Times Explores History of New Superman Movie
- July 21, 2004: Donners and Reeve Producing Superman Movie?
- July 27, 2004: Jim Caviezel Wants to be Superman
- August 4, 2004: Battle For Superman/Superboy Rights Continues
- August 5, 2004: Singer Makes Offer to Welling?
- August 6, 2004: Bryan Singer Does Deal with WB
- August 9, 2004: Superman Movie Casting Call
- August 10, 2004: Director Searches for New 'Superman'
- August 11, 2004: Guy Dyas Joins Superman Movie
- August 12, 2004: Welling Signs on for New Movie... but which one?
- August 16, 2004: Conrad Coleby Tests for Superman
- August 17, 2004: NY Post on Casting for Superman
- August 18, 2004: No Super Deal for ESC
- August 21, 2004: No Meeting Between Welling & Singer
- August 30, 2004: Is Jim Caviezel Superman?
- August 30, 2004: Superman Auditions & Location Scouting
- August 30, 2004: Jeph Loeb Says “Tom Welling is NOT Superman”
- September 2, 2004: Charity War over Caviezel as Superman
- September 3, 2004: “World's Finest” Michael O'Hearn Auditions for Superman
- September 14, 2004: Superman Movie Script First Draft Completed?
- September 26, 2004: Bryan Singer Talks at NYU about Superman
- September 26, 2004: Sam Heughan Meets with Bryan Singer
- September 27, 2004: Dan Harris Talks Superman Script
- October 3, 2004: More from Singer on Superman
- October 12, 2004: Bryan Singer Talks About Superman Movie
- October 17, 2004: Brandon Routh Cast as Superman?
- October 18, 2004: Casting Decision Close on Lois Lane
- October 19, 2004: Kevin Spacey to Play Lex Luthor?
- October 20, 2004: Bryan Singer Confirms Brandon Routh as Superman
- October 20, 2004: Dan Harris Talks Superman Movie
- October 20, 2004: Casting Lois Lane - Six in the Mix
- October 21, 2004: Official Announcement - Warner Bros. Pictures Casts Brandon Routh as Superman
- October 25, 2004: Mark Millar Admits $1000 Defeat Over Superman Casting
- October 26, 2004: Superman Movie Rumors and Reports
- October 28, 2004: Brandon Routh - A Little Perspective
- October 30, 2004: Imageworks to Create Superman Special Effects
- November 5, 2004: USA Today on New Superman Movie
- November 7, 2004: Ratner Approves of Superman Casting
- November 9, 2004: Previous Graphic Designer Talks about “Superman Lives”
- November 11, 2004: Bryan Singers Talks on Radio About Superman
- November 15, 2004: Building Superman Movie Sets in Australia
- November 21, 2004: Has Kevin Spacey Signed on as Lex Luthor?
- November 22, 2004: Bryan Singer on Casting Brandon Routh as Superman
- November 30, 2004: Lois Lane Rumors and Digital Character Advancements for Superman Movie
- December 1, 2004: Jack Larson Turns Down Perry White Role?
- December 3, 2004: Dan Harris Talks Superman Script
- December 7, 2004: Jimmy Olsen - Topher Out? Ashmore In?
- December 8, 2004: Dan Harris Says “Superman” Bigger Than “X2”
- December 14, 2004: Alec Gillis Talks Superman Movie
- December 22, 2004: Superman Heading for Queensland Australia
- January 19, 2004: Christopher Reeve “Pass It On” Billboard
- January 27, 2004: VH1 to Air “Superhero Super Secret Movie Rules”
- March 21, 2004: Fans Clamor for “Superman II” Donner Cut
- April 2, 2004: “Superman: The Movie” Costume For Sale!
- April 21, 2004: Superman Movie Prop on Auction
- May 4, 2004: Christopher Reeve to Direct 'Personal' Film
- May 5, 2004: Arclight Cinemas to Present Director Richard Donner Q&A Following “Superman: The Movie”
- June 8, 2004: Sarah Douglas to Star in New Theatre Production
- July 1, 2004: Warner Bros. Moves to Bring Extended “Superman II” to DVD
- July 2, 2004: Marlon Brando Dies at 80
- July 7, 2004: Superman Movie Animator Ronald Potter Dies
- July 9, 2004: “Spider-Man 2” Copies “Superman II”
- August 19, 2004: Superman Movie Storyboards For Sale
- August 30, 2004: Lenny Luthor Remembers “Superman IV”
- September 16, 2004: John Williams to Receive Christmas Honor
- October 11, 2004: Comic Strips in Memory of Christopher Reeve
- October 11, 2004: Colleagues Remember Christopher Reeve
- October 11, 2004: Christopher Reeve Dies!
- October 12, 2004: Christopher Reeve Memorial Service
- October 12, 2004: More Tributes for Christopher Reeve
- October 12, 2004: Christopher Reeve's Film Project Lives On
- October 19, 2004: Christopher Reeve Private Memorial Service
- October 21, 2004: Christopher Reeve's Work Lives On
- October 25, 2004: Life Size Christopher Reeve Statue Unveiling
- October 25, 2004: Richard Donner Appearing at Screenwriting Expo
- October 29, 2004: Friends, family gather at Juilliard for Reeve memorial
- November 10, 2004: Minnie Driver to Host Christopher Reeve Gala
- November 11, 2004: Omaha “Superman: The Movie” Screening to Aid Reeve Charity
- December 6, 2004: A Look at Superman in Total Film Magazine
- December 20, 2004: Reeve Finalist in Most Inspiring Person of the Year Awards
- June 23, 2004: The Search for George Reeves Continues
- September 22, 2004: Adrien Brody Cast in Superman Biopic
- January 27, 2004: Supergirl Movie Update
- February 22, 2004: “Supergirl 2” Casting Call
- October 10, 2004: An Aussie to Play Supergirl?
- December 21, 2004: Supergirl Movie Still a Few Years Away
- May 25, 2004: Dreamwatch Lists The Top 10 Comic-Book Movies of All Time
- July 1, 2004: A Look at the History of Superhero Movies
- July 22, 2004: Fan Film News
- July 22, 2004: Supergirl Composer Jerry Goldsmith Dies in L.A.
- July 25, 2004: More Superman Related Fan Film News
- December 20, 2004: “Tomorrow's Memoir” Filmmaker Interviewed
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