There's an issue with this that I hope you can help your fans to resolve: We don't know exactly which parts of Fables are owned by you vs DC. Presumably, the artwork, final editing and arrangements are owned by them. This leaves us to guess at the parts of characters and plot that are hopefully owned by you, but which DC could still try to claim as their unique contribution and thus go after subsequent creators.
The only solution to this that I can think of would be for you to release whatever manuscripts and artwork that are really just yours. This way, creators can use that as a reference and avoid those things that may have been introduced by DC. I hope this isn't too big of an ask.
It couldn't have been easy for you to have gone this route, but I'm glad that you did, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of it. Heck, I might try and do something with it if I can get a bit more clarity on what I can do. Best wishes and all :)
Couldn't be prouder of you, Bill. When they get around to carving the Mount Rushmore for Comic Creator Rights Advocates (or scale model thereof), I expect to see your face there along with Neal Adams and Dave Sim.
Reading about DC's selective amnesia when it comes to your contract, I can't help but think about Van Halen's notorious "Brown M&M" rider, so the band would know immediately whether or not the concert promoter had read their contract (and the promoter risked forfeiting their profits for the entire show if they failed to provide the appropriately de-browned candies).
Since you're being all humble vis-a-vis Alan Moore, I'm not going to contest the point, but I think it's worth pointing out that there's a difference between creating heroes and being one. Thanks for being you.
Looking forward to reading the adventures of Officer Jelly!
Saw your post about Fables…can we translate and print it in our regional language bengali…we are small comics publishing house based out of Kolkata,India…We don’t have the capital to buy copyright and print, but we really want to promote this fantastic graphic novel among bengali comics readers…since it’s a regional language so our buyer base is very limited , the most sales which we can get is not more than 500-600 copies…will be waiting for your reply…you can drop a mail to kolkatakomics@gmail.com for any kind of queries
DC has since stated this is incorrect and will pursue legal action against anyone who tries to create work based on Fables. I wonder if they're doing the Disney thing where they know the vast majority of everyone is in the same position as you - without the resources to fight DC/WB in court. Really hoping you respond to their claim.
Is there anything in the contract that would prevent you from going the Bloodstained Ritual of the Night route? In case you are not familiar that is the title of a video game created by Koji Igarashi who used to make Castlevania games with Konami. Because Konami treats creators awfully he created a game that is Castlevania in all but name with a different developer - devoid of principle characters from the original franchise but similar in tone and gameplay. Could you not publish a comic called Tales or Legends featuring a hero named Bigg Badd Wolfgang at a different imprint? I understand the desire to turn leaves and explore new concepts but if this were legally viable and actually sold to long time fans I imagine DC would almost certainly feel it.
I feel actually sickened that you are faced with such a choice but wow, what a gutsy thing to do!
Move forward into the light! I hope you feel relieved of a burden now.
As Alan Moore apparently said (I think I read this in a Dave Sim editorial) 'when you realise you've walked in dog mess on the street you don't stamp on it again in an attempt to punish it, instead you scrape it off your shoe and walk away.'
Dave Sim describes this bad business behaviour in his 1993 ProCon speech which I happened to read again a few months back. However grasping behaviour seems to exist in every industry, not just creative industries.
Man, there is a lot of Watchmen-media by creators I really like that theoretically I would love to read/watch - but the whole Alan Moore thing makes me so mad that I just can‘t. Thank you for taking a stand for creators!
This is the Way.
Congrats. You did the right thing. I look forward to the Fables in the future from creatives who want to say FU to DC
There's an issue with this that I hope you can help your fans to resolve: We don't know exactly which parts of Fables are owned by you vs DC. Presumably, the artwork, final editing and arrangements are owned by them. This leaves us to guess at the parts of characters and plot that are hopefully owned by you, but which DC could still try to claim as their unique contribution and thus go after subsequent creators.
The only solution to this that I can think of would be for you to release whatever manuscripts and artwork that are really just yours. This way, creators can use that as a reference and avoid those things that may have been introduced by DC. I hope this isn't too big of an ask.
It couldn't have been easy for you to have gone this route, but I'm glad that you did, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of it. Heck, I might try and do something with it if I can get a bit more clarity on what I can do. Best wishes and all :)
Couldn't be prouder of you, Bill. When they get around to carving the Mount Rushmore for Comic Creator Rights Advocates (or scale model thereof), I expect to see your face there along with Neal Adams and Dave Sim.
Reading about DC's selective amnesia when it comes to your contract, I can't help but think about Van Halen's notorious "Brown M&M" rider, so the band would know immediately whether or not the concert promoter had read their contract (and the promoter risked forfeiting their profits for the entire show if they failed to provide the appropriately de-browned candies).
Since you're being all humble vis-a-vis Alan Moore, I'm not going to contest the point, but I think it's worth pointing out that there's a difference between creating heroes and being one. Thanks for being you.
Looking forward to reading the adventures of Officer Jelly!
So in practice, does this mean I can print copies of fables myself? Is the public domain artwork available somewhere for me to download?
Or is it the "idea" of Fables and the characters that are now in the public domain, which I can freely use to make my own stories and art with?
Saw your post about Fables…can we translate and print it in our regional language bengali…we are small comics publishing house based out of Kolkata,India…We don’t have the capital to buy copyright and print, but we really want to promote this fantastic graphic novel among bengali comics readers…since it’s a regional language so our buyer base is very limited , the most sales which we can get is not more than 500-600 copies…will be waiting for your reply…you can drop a mail to kolkatakomics@gmail.com for any kind of queries
Thanks
DC has since stated this is incorrect and will pursue legal action against anyone who tries to create work based on Fables. I wonder if they're doing the Disney thing where they know the vast majority of everyone is in the same position as you - without the resources to fight DC/WB in court. Really hoping you respond to their claim.
Nicely done. Kudos.
The only downside that I see is that DC also get to do whatever they want with Fables.
This is inspiring.
The utmost respect! Thank you for taking a stand for creators!
Is there anything in the contract that would prevent you from going the Bloodstained Ritual of the Night route? In case you are not familiar that is the title of a video game created by Koji Igarashi who used to make Castlevania games with Konami. Because Konami treats creators awfully he created a game that is Castlevania in all but name with a different developer - devoid of principle characters from the original franchise but similar in tone and gameplay. Could you not publish a comic called Tales or Legends featuring a hero named Bigg Badd Wolfgang at a different imprint? I understand the desire to turn leaves and explore new concepts but if this were legally viable and actually sold to long time fans I imagine DC would almost certainly feel it.
Q: can you post the contract?
I feel actually sickened that you are faced with such a choice but wow, what a gutsy thing to do!
Move forward into the light! I hope you feel relieved of a burden now.
As Alan Moore apparently said (I think I read this in a Dave Sim editorial) 'when you realise you've walked in dog mess on the street you don't stamp on it again in an attempt to punish it, instead you scrape it off your shoe and walk away.'
Dave Sim describes this bad business behaviour in his 1993 ProCon speech which I happened to read again a few months back. However grasping behaviour seems to exist in every industry, not just creative industries.
Well done! I really hope you feel lighter!
Man, there is a lot of Watchmen-media by creators I really like that theoretically I would love to read/watch - but the whole Alan Moore thing makes me so mad that I just can‘t. Thank you for taking a stand for creators!
I hope this starts a trend. Can't believe I maybe living through history