Stan Lee Media Sues Marvel

Friday, March 16, 2007
By: Ryan Ball

Stan Lee Media, a company founded in 1998 by celebrated comic-book creator Stan Lee, is suing Marvel Ent. for $5 billion. Filed yesterday in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the claim alleges that Lee, after his employment with Marvel was terminated nine years ago, transferred rights to comic book characters he co-created to Stan Lee Media ownership.

Lee, who is no longer affiliated with Stan Lee Media and has no part in the suit, issued a statement reading, "I do not support this action and believe the suit to be baseless." The comic guru is currently suing the Stan Lee Media, challenging the legitimacy of its management. The company recently went into bankruptcy and is seeking to recover revenues Marvel has earned from such popular comic-book properties as Spider-Man, X-Men and The Incredible Hulk. Marvel says the claim has no merit and is confident that it will prevail in the dispute.

Stan Lee currently serves as publisher emeritus of Marvel Comics, while also running POW! Ent. He himself sued Marvel Ent. in November or 2002, claiming that he was entitled to a share of profits earned by the company from the blockbuster Spider-Man movies and other film and television productions that feature Marvel characters. Marvel was ordered to pay him 10% of profits earned since 1998 and appealed the decision, but later settled with Lee for an undisclosed amount.

Reader Comments

• shakeem R. Winn : artist and writer : winn ltd

  Friday, March 16, 2007

  Stan Lee deserves whatever money Spiderman makes because he is the creator of the character. So stop being cheap Marvel and pay the father of modern comics his due.

• Anon. : CEO : A \"real\" honest American Corporation

  Monday, March 19, 2007

  All companies who conduct business by stealing the intellectual property of individuals such as Mr. Stan Lee will eventually fail either through attrition or litigation. They deserve to lose all the profits from the characters he created if they are in any way unwilling to share.
  
  This has become the MAJOR problem in American business today. Those who have stolen their way into power but never had any right to be there are prone to steal, lie and cheat in order to stay in power. These are the same techniques they learned at the average IVY league school.
  
  The days of the typical back stabbing cheat, are coming to an end. This also seems to be true for the politico who fall under the same category and operate the same way.
  
  I\'ll be glad once the playing field is a little more level after all of these scumbag types are removed from power in both instances.

• dougfromupland : documentary filmmaker :

  Monday, March 19, 2007

  Stan signed an agreement assignment his rights to Stan Lee Media before he assigned them to Marvel.
  
  OCT. 15, 1998 CONTRACT between Lee and Stan Lee Media: secinfo.com/dsVsb.5Dg.1z.htm
  
  NOV. 1, 1998 CONTRACT between Lee and Marvel: contracts.onecle.com/marvel/lee.emp.1998.11.01.shtml
  
  Another extremely important case will be heard in L.A. Superior this year --- Paul v Clinton. Finally, the role of the Clintons in the demise of Stan Lee Media will finally see the light of day. youtube.com/watch?v=LUWlxc7h5AI

• Martin Ongtangco : Production Manager : The RedMachine, Inc.

  Wednesday, March 28, 2007

  Stan Lee has been the root of all success to Marvel, he should be at least given 80% of all revenues collected from using his own characters and stories.
  
  Weird part of this article though is Stan Lee\'s suing his own name!

• AK :

  Tuesday, April 10, 2007

  Stan Lee, I hope you win all your fights, flourish and prosper. And oh, yeah, make a movie of these experiences. I\\\\\\\'ll be the first in line for tickets.

• fdzg : asdf : adsf

  Monday, May 07, 2007

  asdfdas

• anton : student : school

  Sunday, June 10, 2007

  THIS SITE IS USLESS. IT STINKS IT SHOULD HAVE ANIMATIONS

• sebastian : studnet : bobs bob gogo house

  Sunday, June 10, 2007

  I HATE THIS SITE ON BEHALF OF MY COMPANY ITS USELESS ANIMATIONS U NEED ANIMATIONS U USLESS BARSTED

• elvin : mryandao damn this : damn thing

  Sunday, July 29, 2007

  u suck stan lee i hate u