Splitting Superman: The Siegel Victory - Apr 02, 2008 - 10:07am
In 1938, a copyright lasted for 26 years, and could be renewed for another 26 years. Siegel and Schuster made a bad deal to sell their rights for $130, but that deal was meant to cover 52 years of Superman publication. In 1977, the copyright law was changed to allow a total of 75 years of copyright protection. (In the mid 1990's, this was extended to 95 years.) Both pieces of legislation contemplated that owners of copyrights who had sold those rights may have done so under the belief that they were selling, and purchasers believed they were buying, rights that would expire at an earlier time. Congress did not want the purchaser of a copyright to get a windfall that was unbargained for. Therefore, the law allows a prior copyright holder to reclaim rights for the extension period. Siegel and Schuster sold their rights up until 1990. But the intervening change in laws gave Siegel and Schuster additional copyright protection through 2033. They never sold these extra 43 years, and their estates are entitled to take it back.

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Coen Bros. Adapting YIDDISH Police Tale - Feb 12, 2008 - 08:36am
They are surprisingly glossing over the "genre" portion of the film's plot: the story is set in an alternate universe where Jews settled in Alaska rather than Israel after WWII.

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Jane Ready to RUN for McTiernan - Feb 10, 2008 - 10:17pm
And production will start, I assume, right after McTiernan gets out of prison on his obstruction of justice conviction...

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