TRIBUNE SUES MARVEL FOR $100 MILLION

**MattBrady** · 10-31-2003, 11:41 AM

According to various reports, Tribune Entertainment has filed suit against Marvel for $100 million, claiming that Marvel made statements about its Mutant X syndicated television series which were “fraudulent and negligent,” and as a result, responsible for harming the show.

Tribune’s Mutant X has already been to the courts once, two years ago when it had to defend itself against 20th Century Fox, who sued the producer, claiming that the series was a knockoff of the studio’s very successful and then newborn X-Men film franchise. Tribune and Fox settled earlier this month, and Fox filed a motion to dismiss the suit on Thursday.

Tribune filed suit against Marvel on Tuesday in the New York Supreme Court, requesting damages, including punitive damages of “at least $100 million.” At the core of Tribune’s complaint is that it had to spend millions of dollars defending itself against Fox – money that, it feels it shouldn’t have had to pay because, as Tribune alleges, Marvel committed fraud and misrepresented the rights it was granting to the production company.

Tribune alleges that the fraud and misrepresentation perpetrated by Marvel were the direct cause of the suit by Fox, which resulted in the studio being forced to spend millions defending itself. In the earlier suit between Fox and Tribune, Marvel executives stated to Tribune that Fox did not have any rights to a television show, however, Tribune claims, Marvel refused to provide the television production company with copies of their contract with Fox so Marvel’s claims could be verified.

Tribune alleges that Mutant X’s success was hamstrung because they had to change plotlines and characters to distance it further from X-Men.

"Tribune has not realized any profit at all from the production and distribution of 'Mutant X' but has instead lost millions of dollars," the production company’s lawsuit said.

UPDATE (11:35 am): Mid morning on Friday, Marvel released a statement, rejecting the allegations raised by Tribune in the suit, stating:

In response to a lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court by Tribune Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of the Tribune Co. (NYSE: TRB), Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) stated that Tribune's claims are without merit and that Marvel looks forward to vigorously defending the action. Marvel is reviewing a range of possible legal actions in addition to its active defense. Marvel does not intend to make any further public comment on the litigation at this time.

saiyanspider · 10-31-2003, 11:59 AM

wow... so If marvel loses will they go bankrupt again?

also the fact that the show sucked didn't have anything to do with the fact that it got canned, it's all marvel's fault...

ParisCub · 10-31-2003, 12:10 PM

I'm actually surprised that this show survived that long!

I mean, better shows than this one didn't survive for two years!

And Mutant X is crap!

xdemon · 10-31-2003, 12:11 PM

"Tribune alleges that Mutant X’s success was hamstrung because they had to change plotlines and characters to distance it further from X-Men."

Isn't changing plotlines and characters something Tribune makes all their shows do every season? Earth: Final Conflict is a prime example.

I watched a handful of the first season's shows and it just plain stunk.

Jeffbot · 10-31-2003, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady
According to various reports, Tribune Entertainment has filed suit against Marvel for $100 million, claiming that Marvel made statements about its Mutant X syndicated television series which were “fraudulent and negligent,” and as a result, were responsible for the demise of the show.

I'd bet the fact that the show sucked was probably more responsible for its "demise."

**MattBrady** · 10-31-2003, 12:36 PM

Mid morning on Friday, Marvel released a statement, rejecting the allegations raised by Tribune in the suit, stating:

In response to a lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court by Tribune Entertainment Company, a subsidiary of the Tribune Co. (NYSE: TRB), Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) stated that Tribune's claims are without merit and that Marvel looks forward to vigorously defending the action. Marvel is reviewing a range of possible legal actions in addition to its active defense. Marvel does not intend to make any further public comment on the litigation at this time.

Kid A · 10-31-2003, 12:38 PM

Hey, hey hey now. What about that episode Freddie Prinze, JR. wrote? That was magic, right? RIGHT?! Oh forget it, you're all right, it sucked.

Eddy_O · 10-31-2003, 12:45 PM

Well, in the words of Comic Book Guy: Worst. Series. Ever.

MichaelCoughlin · 10-31-2003, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady

"Tribune has not realized any profit at all from the production and distribution of 'Mutant X' but has instead lost millions of dollars," the production company’s lawsuit said.

Wow. I'm shocked and amazed that this series has lost money. I mean, what're the odds that the personification of pure crap wouldn't make money?

Maybe I should sue the Tribune Corp. for putting this on the air and potentially killing the comic book industry. Imagine if this was a person's exposure to the medium's charecters, we'd all be doomed! I smell countersuit!

mpg · 10-31-2003, 12:52 PM

i think tribune is getting its financial figures from Dr Evil.

"Lets sue them for , $100 MILLION DOLLARS!"

i watched the show, i could never figure out what the hell was going on. and that andy warhol lookin guy was just creepy.

Fazhoul · 10-31-2003, 12:54 PM

Now let me see if I've got this right. You guys are saying that this was a bad show? Because I was kind of confused by your statements as to how you felt about the series.

SpyGuy · 10-31-2003, 12:55 PM

Let me get this straight: Tribune rips off Marvel's X-Men concept for a new show, steals one of their titles for that show, then makes that show unwatchable except for Victoria Pratt's belly, and THEN has the cahones to SUE Marvel?

In the immortal words of Eric Cartman: Okay, you guys, whatever...

10-31-2003, 12:58 PM

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Jack Burton · 10-31-2003, 01:00 PM

I never understood how Mutant X was anyway related to Marvel other than sharing a title with a Marvel book. All the characters were "original" creations right? Not to mention they weren't really Marvel mutants more like Spider-Man altered humans. Anyhow the show's like Tribune's other super-hero effort Nightman absolute $@#%.

10-31-2003, 01:04 PM

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starvenger · 10-31-2003, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Burton
I never understood how Mutant X was anyway related to Marvel other than sharing a title with a Marvel book. All the characters were "original" creations right? Not to mention they weren't really Marvel mutants more like Spider-Man altered humans. Anyhow the show's like Tribune's other super-hero effort Nightman absolute $@#%.

It had more in common with Dark Angel than it did with Marvel's X-books. But maybe that's the issue here - that they were supposed to be more like the X-Men.

As for how the show lasted this long... well, that's the power (or curse) of syndication, I guess.

DCON · 10-31-2003, 01:25 PM

WHAT THE?!?!?

What im wondering about is ... when is MARVEL gonna suit them for using the Mutant X name .... or just for steeling the whole look (or trying to) of the XMEN movies and concept of mutants...

This is a bunch of crap and so is that show, i hope marvel counter suits and wins!

dollman · 10-31-2003, 01:27 PM

I'm completely oblivious to both the TV show and Marvel's concept, although I caught the tv version and am somewhat aware of its premise.

What's the premise of Marvel's Mutant X? Has it anything to do with Wolverine's past life as Weapon X?

Ionicavenger · 10-31-2003, 01:31 PM

You know that you are in trouble when your headliner is John Shea, the oh-so-scary Lex Luthor from the Lois & Clark television show.

I think Marvel should countersue Tribune for putting out SUCH a PIECE of SHITE and tredding on the big-ticket name of the X-Men. A show like this 'could' have been more detrirmential. I would be embarassed if I was Avi and Joey Q. What if some seven year old kid stumbled across this show and sees the words 'mutant' and 'x'. He would immediately assume that this is related to the X-Men film franchise. Hell, I think everybody assumed at least at one point, 'oh, they're making a show about Havok in an alternate Universe'. Alex Summers doesn't do syndication.

manosx · 10-31-2003, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DCON
WHAT THE?!?!?

What im wondering about is ... when is MARVEL gonna suit them for using the Mutant X name .... or just for steeling the whole look (or trying to) of the XMEN movies and concept of mutants...

This is a bunch of crap and so is that show, i hope marvel counter suits and wins!

Actually the company purchased the rights to Mutant X from Marvel, and from the outset said they were going a different direction than the Marvel book.

xdemon · 10-31-2003, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ionicavenger
You know that you are in trouble when your headliner is John Shea, the oh-so-scary Lex Luthor from the Lois & Clark television show.

Don't dis Shea too much. He did an excellent job last week on Law & Order as a mentally-disturbed guy in a take of the Phil Spector shooting incident. I watched and wondered why he couldn't do that well on Mutant X. Then I remembered that this was a Tribune show.

So guess Tribune isn't making a dime off the DVD sets?

Spider-Bob · 10-31-2003, 01:47 PM

I think it’s been said before, but warrants repeating. This show was pure undiluted SHIT! One of the most unwatchable pieces of tripe to ever grace the idiot box. Low, low low rent garbage. I have pretty low standards for weekend syndicated television, and this show couldn’t even reach the bottom of the scale. If it were a woman, it would be the bearded, fat-lady at the local southern-fried carnival. The surprising thing is that it took Tribune this long to sue Marvel for saying something bad about their bad show. My theory is that much like the USFL they only existed to sue their wealthier counterpart the NFL, who by virtue of existing pointed out how crappy they were. Profits ready made in the court. Why should talent be any substitute for a lawsuit?

10-31-2003, 01:52 PM

Well ,now maybe every comic retailer in the country can sue Marvel when one of their comics sucks and we can't sell it and lose money on it. Marvel solicites and promotes and says a book is going to be good like "Rawhide Kid" or "Truth and then when it bombs we can all sue for damages. I think every retailer with unsold Marvel comics should look at this suit as a blessing now we can sue them too because their comics suck.

10-31-2003, 01:58 PM

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Zig Zag Wanderer · 10-31-2003, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mpg
i think tribune is getting its financial figures from Dr Evil.

"Lets sue them for , $100 MILLION DOLLARS!"

Sounds like they're pretty much angling for an out of court settlement.