On Oct. 11, 2012, Laura Siegel Larson, daughter of famed Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, wrote a letter addressed to “Superman fans everywhere” concerning her family’s fight to restore her father’s rights as co-creator to her family.
The gist is this: Jerry Siegel’s rights reverted back to the family in 1999, but the family has yet to see a large percentage the profits that – under the copyright act – the family is entitled.
In 2008, the U.S. District Court ruled Laura Siegel and her mother had successfully reclaimed her father’s Superman rights and were entitled to profits since April 1999. So, happy ending right?
Wrong. As of writing, there is still a major battle going on between Warner Bros. filing a suit through DC against Siegel’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff.
Warner has also, in the words of Siegel,”…spent about $35 million on corporate lawyers to fight my family…instead of investing in a fair settlement.”
These are the basic facts of a case that is long and ugly, and one that brings up some important question: Where do the writers stand when it comes to the rights and profits of their creations?
Do comic creators, screenwriters, etc., earn a decent profit from their creations?
Well, the answer seems to be, typically, nope. Writers Guide of America-West estimates working members tend to make $40,000 to $110,000 annually, which doesn’t even amount to much once one factors in cost of living (particularly in large cities such as New York or Los Angeles) and then this sum dwindles quite a bit.
Considering these writers are responsible for some of your favorite movies and TV shows, most of them average the same salary (or less) than an elementary school teacher.
When you watch TV, you are watching an actor portraying a character.
Perhaps the portrayal is a brilliant one (Who could argue Nick Offerman’s portrayal of Ron Swanson is anything but brilliant?), but it’s important to keep in mind in the end these are portrayals of characters.
Sure, the actor animates these characters, but the flesh and bones were created on paper. 
The Dowager Countess of “Downton Abbey,” Ron Swanson of “Parks and Recreation” and Walter White of “Breaking Bad” are written characters.
Every line and action is written by people who essentially (either in a group or singlehandedly) have created the characters we know and love.
Without the writers for movies, TV, comics and more, some of your favorite shows might not even exist. Without Jack Kirby, we wouldn’t have Thor, the X-Men and countless other Marvel characters (not to mention the subsequent movie and television adaptations), and how is this creativity rewarded?
In other words, without Thor we wouldn’t have movies of actor Chris Hemsworth prancing around in tights.
With a court ruling in favor of Marvel claiming Kirby’s creations were created as “work for hire” and thusly owned and controlled by Marvel.
Pretty bum deal for the man who helped create some of the most iconic superheroes of the day.
Remember the writers’ strike, way back in 2007-2008, and the disastrous effect it had on television, film and radio?
The total estimated loss, according to UCLA Anderson School of Management was $380 million. Three-hundred eighty million in just 14 weeks and two days.
Nobody wants another entertainment drought, so let’s support the writers and creators who make the characters and stories we love.
Because Lord knows nobody needs another TLC monstrosity (I’m looking at you, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”)