What would happen to DC if they lost the rights to Superman.

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

This question concerns DC as a whole.

Given the thing with the Siegels (and potentially the Shusters), what would happen to DC IF they lost the rights (not saying they will) to Superman. What steps would DC need to take afterwards and where would they go from that point? How would this change the DCU? How would this affect the company as a whole?

[Dereknerd]

I have to say that I am surprised that Warner Brothers has not (as far as I know) tried to just buy out the Siegle family. I imagine that if things got bad enough, thats what they would do. Superman is a huge money maker for WB and DC. Licensing rights alone must bring in a hefty chunk of change every year.

[ultraaman]

They'd loose some revenue but not much more than that. They can't loose the rights for the character they have created that we know of as Superman today because the court established that is a unique derivative.

But if they lost the concept rights in full that were established in Action Comics #1 then I could see the character being licensed out to other companies who in turn would make stories about him that DC can't or won't make - uber-violent hypersexual stories most likely. That would impact the DC-ized character and could create market confusion or even worse, practically kill the DC titles.

I don't think merchandising would be effected since the S-shield as we know it is a DC trademark, totally unrelated to the issue in this court case.

[carabas]

They would have to put aside a crutch they really haven't needed for ages, and they'd probably be better for it, since it is a very old crutch that doesn't really go well with the rest of their stuff.

[Supermancho]

They would settle an agreement with the families, precisely what DC has refused to do.
http://www.yelims.com/IPB/Invision-Board-France-234.gif

[JCAll]

They would have to put aside a crutch they really haven't needed for ages, and they'd probably be better for it, since it is a very old crutch that doesn't really go well with the rest of their stuff.

One could argue that Superman is exactly what DC needs, to pull them out of the Kill/Rape everybody mentality that has been making the rounds recently.

[Lord of Denial]

One could argue that Superman is exactly what DC needs, to pull them out of the Kill/Rape everybody mentality that has been making the rounds recently.

I pretty much a agree.

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

Hunh... I wonder why this was moved here.

I could have sworn this affects the DCU and DC as a whole. :confused:

[Buried Alien]

One could argue that Superman is exactly what DC needs, to pull them out of the Kill/Rape everybody mentality that has been making the rounds recently.

I'm thinking that's why Barry Allen has been brought back from the dead.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[datriadx18]

I think it would affect the DCU in its entirety.

[herogirl]

If DC lost rights to Superman, but the current S-Shield is registered to them, couldn't they just redesign him a bit and reintroduce him as a new hero to replace Superman? You know, give him a new color scheme and different powers. Like a Superman wannabe, up-and-coming hero. Or even turn him into a villain. That would be a creepy twist.