Stop Watch

The legal battle between Warner Bros. and Fox over the rights to the already finished Watchmen film was supposed to get underway after the New Year, but Los Angeles Federal judge Gary Allen Feess decided to instead quickly settle the whole thing on Wednesday by handing the rights to the movie over to Fox.



The Fox's lawyers claimed back in August that their only goal was to keep the film from being released. and that the studio is not in it for the money, only to keep you from seeing Watchmen. It looks like they've succeeded.

The NY Times reports the court’s ruling says, “Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the ‘Watchmen’ motion picture.”

I would think that also gives them the right not to distribute it.

The Times story leaves wiggle room for Fox to end up as a profit participant and the judge did suggest that both parties look for a settlement resolution. There’s also room here for an appeal by Warner Bros.

Some sort of agreement would be nice...But if it does happen it is gonna be nasty getting there...Surely the March '09 release will be delayed ...

So much for peace and harmony during the holidays... This Really SUCKS!!