ERB Inc vs Dynamite Comics over John Carter and Tarzan

[samurainoir]

Copyrights have expired, but it will be interesting to see how the Battle over Trademark shakes out.
Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Sues Dynamite Over John Carter, Tarzan - Comic Book Resources

I think the real smoking gun would be if Dynamite's titles are distributed to the UK by Diamond, where copyright hasn't expired yet (DC ran into this with Peter Pan in Fables... as did Top Shelf with Alan Moore's Lost Girls).

[torgospizza]

I don't have it right in front of me, but I got the first issue of Lord of the Jungle, and I'm pretty sure he's John Clayton, Lord Greystoke. I think they're actually using his name, although they're refraining from using his mangani name, Tarzan. They could have called the book "White Skin" which is what Tarzan means, although that might not be kosher in today's political climate.

It was the first book I've picked up in over a year, and it wasn't bad, really. Solid enough adaption, so far.

[johnmiic]

I hope this works out. Dejah Thoris is some of the best soft-core porn in comics ever.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Dynamite seems to have a knack for playing fast and loose with licenses. After all they announced they had the rights to the Phantom when the really didn't a few years back.

Chris

[The Toyroom]

And weren't there issues with some of their "public domain" characters they use in "Project Super Powers"?

[Earth 2 Chris]

^My memory is foggy, but I think there were some issues with the fact that the cribbed a bit from the AC Comics versions of the characters, and not just the actual Golden Age versions.

Chris

[samurainoir]

Dynamite seems to have a knack for playing fast and loose with licenses. After all they announced they had the rights to the Phantom when the really didn't a few years back.

Chris

My understanding was that King Features is/was a bit too Loosey Goosey and doesn't quite realize what they have... Sounded like a communication breakdown to me (particularly since Dynamite did end up with the license a year later). On a recent Geek Shall inherit podcast, I seem to recall that they didn't even know they owned the movie Flash Gordon rights.

In this case, there is no license since the books have entered public domain (in North America), and they are not using "Tarzan" or "John Carter" or "Princess of Mars" or whatever it is that ERB Inc has trade marked. Philip Jose Farmer had gotten away with writing Tarzan books for years by simply changing all the names. It will be interesting to see what is enforceable in this case, but I assume That ERB Inc has Disney backing their play here?

[MEMEGO]

Greedy Disney Strikes Again.