Predator writers are suing Disney to get the rights back

[TigerClaw]

The writers for the original Predator movie are suing Disney to get the rights back to the franchise.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/predator-screenwriters-suing-disney-to-recapture-rights

[neatoman]

Well if the contract states they get get the rights back after 35 years, then shouldn't Disney honor that? I mean, they've made like 5 sequels counting the AVP movies and they're all pretty much crap, right? Even if they weren't, most of them didn't really make that much money. Why would Disney care about keeping the series?

[Andrew NDB]

Because they're already making Predator 5. They have been for months now.

[Coola Yagami]

Well if the contract states they get get the rights back after 35 years, then shouldn't Disney honor that? I mean, they've made like 5 sequels counting the AVP movies and they're all pretty much crap, right? Even if they weren't, most of them didn't really make that much money. Why would Disney care about keeping the series?

Cause of pettiness?

[Wildcat]

I read about this yesterday. I know little to nothing how copyright works but it seems they just don’t want Disney to have it. Why make a big deal now?

I know most will automatically root against Disney but I really wanna know if they would have done this if Fox wasn’t bought.

[Andrew NDB]

I read about this yesterday. I know little to nothing how copyright works but it seems they just don’t want Disney to have it. Why make a big deal now?

Obvious answer: they know they won't win but are banking on Disney not wanting to drag things out, so will settle out of court for a lump sum and that'll be that.

I know most will automatically root against Disney but I really wanna know if they would have done this if Fox wasn’t bought.

Presumably. The expiration date was always going to be this week, regardless of who owns the IP at the moment.

[The Deadman]

Well if the contract states they get get the rights back after 35 years, then shouldn't Disney honor that? I mean, they've made like 5 sequels counting the AVP movies and they're all pretty much crap, right? Even if they weren't, most of them didn't really make that much money. Why would Disney care about keeping the series?

I'm no expert on film and copyright law but I'm pretty sure if a film is actively in development, it doesn't matter when they get the rights back. Franchises have to be on the shelf for an amount of time before they revert back to whoever.