Sony, Marvel Tangled in 'Spider-Man' Legal Web

[Gaumont]

Sony, Marvel Tangled in 'Spider-Man' Legal Web
Fri April 18, 2003 05:56 PM ET
By Steve Gorman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A sticky web of legal intrigue over "Spider-Man" movie merchandising is in the hands of a Los Angeles judge, who is expected to decide next week whether or not it will be untangled entirely in public.

Comic book publisher Marvel Enterprises Inc. has filed suit against Sony Pictures Entertainment, seeking to terminate its "Spider-Man" licensing agreement with the movie studio after the upcoming sequel to last year's blockbuster film.

Sony has sought to settle the dispute privately in arbitration, while Marvel has asked for a jury trial. The movie studio argues that Marvel is using the litigation as leverage to secure better licensing terms, knowing disclosure of sealed documents in the case would compromise Sony's dealings with future business partners and competitors.

Judge Alexander Williams on Monday will consider motions by Sony seeking to keep certain documents under seal and to refer the dispute to a referee -- a retired judge assigned to handle the case in an expedited manner -- rather than a jury trial.

Losing its licensing pact with Marvel would effectively cut short one of Sony's most potentially lucrative film franchises. But Marvel has insisted that its suit is not an attempt to halt production of a "Spider-Man" sequel.

The original "Spider-Man" movie, starring Tobey Maguire as a geeky teenager transformed into a superhuman crime fighter by a radioactive spider bite, was the highest-grossing movie of 2002, generating worldwide ticket sales of $800 million.

Marvel, whose 4,700 comic characters are licensed to promote everything from snack foods to clothing and entertainment, filed its complaint under seal in Los Angeles Superior Court in February.

Details of the litigation have since surfaced in redacted court papers filed by both sides in arguments over how much, if any, of the proceedings should be opened to the public.

Judge Williams has tentatively ruled that the proceedings should be open and is expected to issue a formal decision after a hearing on the matter set for Monday.

Read more at Reuters

[Matrix]

everyone wants his pice ofthe cake...