PARADOX ACQUIRES REMAINDER OF REH PROPERTIES

[MattBrady]

According to a report in Variety, Swedish based Paradox Entertainment, which already owns the literary rights to Robert E. Howard’s Conan, has purchased the remainder of the rights to the REH library from the late writer’s estate, amounting to 800 or more properties. As the report relates, Paradox now controls Kull, Bran Mak Morn, Solomon Kane and Red Sonya, and, again, according to Variety “hopes to license its new literary properties for film, TV, videogames, comics, toys and other areas.”

The press release from Paradox reads:

Paradox Entertainment announced today that the company has acquired all rights to the library of author Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan and over 800 other literary pieces. Paradox Entertainment has owned Howard’s Conan since 2002 and the new addition of the entire library gathers all of Howard’s writings under one company. “We have been negotiating this transaction for a year and we are confident of its tremendous value. I don’t think it’s possible to overestimate the magnitude of this purchase,” said Peter Sederowsky, Chairman of the Board at Paradox Entertainment AB.

“Robert E. Howard is undoubtedly one of the greatest fantasy authors of the 20th century, with an enormous list of works. It is mind-boggling that only four movies have been made based on his writings. Through this purchase we are securing an extensive production slate through long-term partnership in all areas of entertainment and media. We are already considering many projects and are excited for the future,” said Fredrik Malmberg, Head of Licensing & Creative Affairs at Paradox Entertainment Inc. in Los Angeles.

Robert E. Howard was one of the greatest authors of his time and is considered the creator of the genre ”Sword & Sorcery”, perhaps most known through the character Conan. Despite his short literary career – Howard died at the mere age of 30, after only 12 years as a productive author – he wrote over 800 stories and poems. Howard’s breakthrough came when being published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales during the 1930s. His stories take us to such different surroundings as ancient Atlantis, the North African desert during WW1, hidden opium dens in dark alleys of the Big City, and northern Britain during the invasion of the Roman Legions.

Over the years, many authors have been inspired by Howard’s stories, and have praised his literary legacy, among them H. P. Lovecraft, Michael Moorcock, and Stephen King, who said about Howard: ”In his best work, Howard’s writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks. Stories such as ‘People of the Black Circle’ glow with the fierce and eldritch light of his frenzied intensity.”

As for how this impacts the Howard properties most relevant to comic fans, namely, Dark Horse’s Conan and Dynamite Entertainment’s Red Sonja series, the short version is, it doesn’t.

While this deal will simplify things, the world of REH licensed properties is still slightly complicated, with all of the creator’s characters not sharing one “universe” that can be owned or licensed.

In regards to Conan, Dark Horse licenses the character from Conan Properties International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paradox. CPI controls not only Conan, but all associated characters from the Hyborian world.

Except Red Sonja.

As explained previously, Red Sonja is controlled by the Red Sonja Corporation, a wholly separate company, distinct from the REH Estate, Paradox, and CPI. Reportedly (and to make just a fewmore lines cross), Red Sonja Corp currently has the rights to the Thulsa Doom character (originally a Kull nemesis, who then appeared in the first Conan film), which it has, in turn, licensed to Dynamite for use in Red Sonja comics.

The ownership lines became fuzzy between 2000-2003, during which time Stan Lee Media bought the rights to Conan (late 2000) when it purchased CPI, promising to make, among other things, a film at Warner Bros., and “webisodes” of the barbarian’s adventures. Stan Lee Media of course, went under in a storm of controversy and alleged wrongdoing in December of 2000. In 2002, Paradox bought into the Conan property, but by that point, the Howard Estate had spun off the Red Sonja rights into their own company, the Red Sonja Corporation. The REH Estate kept the rights to all the other Howard properties.

As noted above though, Paradox does on the rights to Red Sonya, while the Red Sonja Corporation retains the rights to Red Sonja. The difference of course, being in the spelling of the last name. “Red Sonya,” which Paradox now owns, is the original Howard version, a female pirate who was not a contemporary of Conan. “Red Sonja” is the character derived from Howard’s works by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith in 1973. “Sonja” is the character who previously appeared in Marvel’s Conan comics and her own miniseries, while “Sonya” is known perhaps best to Howard aficionados.

The move by Paradox, with their stated aim of seeking to further exploit the characters in, among other media, comics, is notable, as it can be assumed that the process to developing more REH properties for comics may be a little more streamlined. Before their launches, both Conan and Sonja were on the rubbish heap of comics, their viability questionable at best. But as both Dark Horse and Dynamite have shown with their respective series (Red Sonja currently outsells Conan in months that Sonja ships), there is still a demand for Howard’s characters in the market, when treated with care and respect by both publishers and creators.

[Shoeface]

That is so confusing.

[Utumno]

I have to admit, I expected Red Sonja to be something of a disappointment. I was quite surprised to find that I actually enjoyed it as much as I did DH's Conan book. Hopefully both properties will continue to enjoy a bright future.

[boomboom]

I think everything is explained amazingly!

Thanks!

[skeletorjr]

Thulsa Doom first showed up as a Kull villain, then showed up in the Conan movie because John Milius stuck him in there.

Edited to add, this is really cool news.

[captain spectre]

I am so glad these people are making money off of Howard's characters......and lining their pockets and patting themselves on the back......while Howards house needs money just to function so his legacy isn't totally lost in all this. I give what I can each year, do they!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sequart]

C R O S S O V E R ! ! !

[Blind Assassin]

Originally posted by captain spectre
I am so glad these people are making money off of Howard's characters......and lining their pockets and patting themselves on the back......while Howards house needs money just to function so his legacy isn't totally lost in all this. I give what I can each year, do they!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I fail to see the reason for your anger.

The company PAID the estate MONEY for the rights to these characters.



from the article:

According to a report in Variety, Swedish based Paradox Entertainment, which already owns the literary rights to Robert E. Howard’s Conan, has purchased the remainder of the rights to the REH library from the late writer’s estate, amounting to 800 or more properties.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Shoeface
That is so confusing.

Not really. Matt did a good job explaining the situation. Now, all we have to do is sit down and wait for more movies, TV series and comics.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Blind Assassin
I fail to see the reason for your anger.

The company PAID the estate MONEY for the rights to these characters.



from the article:

Yep.

[steveupson]

This looks like a job for...
Infinite Howard Crisis.

[delawarejoel]

I keep hoping that somehow, someday, somebody's going to finally bring Conan to the big screen the right way, not Ah-nuldized (total miscast, though I do enjoy the first Conan movie for other reasons) -- with lots of severed heads and big Lovecraftian monsters the way REH seems to have intended (and the current DH series is managing to provide). He's one of the great characters in literature and deserves a good movie - maybe based on Red Nails or Tower of the Elephant or something. Maybe these folks can do that.

I for one find the new Red Sonja series dull and unoriginal, trying very hard to knockoff the Conan series. It doesnt seem to have its own voice.

I would love a Soloman Kane movie!

[Hypestyle]

so, uh, does this mean that "red Sonja" is owned by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith?

Too bad that Marvel missed the boat when they didn't buy the Howard properties...

[Coward]

My mind is bleeding. It's a good job they're called Paradox.

[bluebird]

I found a Solomon Kane book from Marvel in a 25 cent issue box and loved the character. I've been hoping Dark Horse would give him a book soon. Maybe this means he'll get something from somewhere soon.

One question though: Who in God's name is Bran Mak Morn?

[terry]

Originally posted by captain spectre
I am so glad these people are making money off of Howard's characters......and lining their pockets and patting themselves on the back......while Howards house needs money just to function so his legacy isn't totally lost in all this. I give what I can each year, do they!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know CPI have contributed to the Cross Plains fire relief fund , whether the do more I don't know.

Terry

Contribute to the Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund . Further details at http://www.rehupa.com

[terry]

Originally posted by delawarejoel
I keep hoping that somehow, someday, somebody's going to finally bring Conan to the big screen the right way, not Ah-nuldized (total miscast, though I do enjoy the first Conan movie for other reasons) -- with lots of severed heads and big Lovecraftian monsters the way REH seems to have intended (and the current DH series is managing to provide). He's one of the great characters in literature and deserves a good movie - maybe based on Red Nails or Tower of the Elephant or something. Maybe these folks can do that.

I for one find the new Red Sonja series dull and unoriginal, trying very hard to knockoff the Conan series. It doesnt seem to have its own voice.

I would love a Soloman Kane movie!

Warners have announced they plan to have a live action film out in a year or so . While we waith there's the Red Nails animated movie due in the Summer.


Terry

Contribute to the Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund . Further details at http://www.rehupa.com

[JohnnyZemo]

Originally posted by Hypestyle
so, uh, does this mean that "red Sonja" is owned by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith?

No, according to the article, the Red Sonja Corporation retains the rights to Red Sonja.

[terry]

Originally posted by Hypestyle
so, uh, does this mean that "red Sonja" is owned by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith?

Too bad that Marvel missed the boat when they didn't buy the Howard properties...

No , although I beleive Roy gets a small bit off Red Sonja Corp.

Well Marvel had the license , managed to screw up the later Conan stories and then gave them up . Their decision which I think Joe Q now regrets.

Terry
Contribute to the Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund . Further details at http://www.rehupa.com

[terry]

Originally posted by bluebird
I found a Solomon Kane book from Marvel in a 25 cent issue box and loved the character. I've been hoping Dark Horse would give him a book soon. Maybe this means he'll get something from somewhere soon.

One question though: Who in God's name is Bran Mak Morn?

A Pictish King who fought the Romans .

Terry

Contribute to the Cross Plains Fire Relief Fund . Further details at http://www.rehupa.com

[Fazhoul]

Originally posted by bluebird
I found a Solomon Kane book from Marvel in a 25 cent issue box and loved the character. I've been hoping Dark Horse would give him a book soon. Maybe this means he'll get something from somewhere soon.

One question though: Who in God's name is Bran Mak Morn?

From Wikipedia:

Bran Mak Morn

Bran Mak Morn is a hero of several pulp fiction short stories by Robert E. Howard. In the stories, he is the last king of Howard's romanticized version of the tribal race of Picts. He is a direct linear descendant of Brule the Spear-Slayer, companion of the Atlantean King Kull, whom his magician summons to fight with him in "Kings of The Night". Bran Mak Morn is the leader of a dying and degenerate people, a poor reflection of what once they were and is deeply aware of their inevitable path to extinction, though like all Howard characters he choses to fight against this rather than succumb. His main enemies are the Romans and he makes a very unholy alliance to defeat them in "Worms of the Earth".

[Spider-Bob]

It's been 70 years since Robert E. Howard's death. That being said aren't these properties soon destined for the pubic domain? Last I checked the US law was that intellectual properties became public domain 75 years after the creator's death - and the time period apparently is much shorter in Europe.

[Neuromancer]

Originally posted by Spider-Bob
It's been 70 years since Robert E. Howard's death. That being said aren't these properties soon destined for the pubic domain? Last I checked the US law was that intellectual properties became public domain 75 years after the creator's death - and the time period apparently is much shorter in Europe.

After the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act of 1997, the time period for entry into the public domain became the life of the author plus 100 years after his death. Also, the real issue isn't really the copyright to the stories but the trademark to the characters, which puts a de facto limit on new stories that can be told using the characters.

As to the pubic domain? Well, best to ask someone like Tera Patrick about that...

[Reliant]

I've been really enjoying Dynamite's Red Sonja series a lot, but I do remember reading in the back page of the first issue that she wasn't the original version of the character. The original Red Sonya appeared in only one story by Robert E. Howard and was a gun-totin' gal...

It would be interesting to see a series based on the original Sonya concept...

[Mr Wesley]

So... wait. Who owns Miracleman again?