Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, independence day, jack kirby, marc toberoff

On Independence Day, An Appeal For Creator Owned Rights For America

Published Fri, 04 Jul 2014 08:00:51 -0500

As comic book readers, you will no doubt be familiar wit the argument for creators rights, in a landscape where characters are owned by corporations and veteran creators often have to turn to charity for their final years, while their creations earn millions for Disney and Warners. And most people believe that there should be some shift of rights and royalties towards the creators and away from the corporate.

But how does this apply to America?

Because, on July 4th, it is often assumed that America was created by the Founding Fathers. But is that fair? They are the ones who drew up the paperwork called the United States Declaration of Independence but they didn't get King George's signature on it. Would it really stand up in a modern day court of law?

Isn't more consistent to see that the founding fathers "published" America, in the same way that Marvel published the Fantastic Four?

And with America under the rule of the British Empire, isn't King George a better analogy for Jack 'King' Kirby?

Well, the USA has had a good run. Exploited its resources. Done re=ather well, no one can deny it.

But just as the estate of Jack Kirby have gone to the Supreme Court over the transference of rights from Marvel to the Kirbys, might Great Britain engage lawyer Marc Toberoff to see if we can get the rights to the USA back? And after all, when that Constitution was signed, who knew how big America would become? Clearly there needs to be needs renegotiation.

I do understand that a number of Native American communities have some claim on the property as well, but it's believed that let those claims lapse into the public domain some time ago.

The impact won't be instant when the rights are transferred over. We'd be happy to keep the same folk in charge for a while. We'll just make a few changes like introducing universal healthcare free at the point of need, ban the personal ownership of guns and you won't have to wait three months for Downton Abbey or Sherlock.

The comics may have a few small changes as well, Superman will fight for Tea, Justice And The Empire, Captain America will be demoted to Private while we look into his actions in Iraq, and Batman will be heavily taxed out of operation.

So, enjoy your Independence Day, America. Tomorrow, the British are coming. And we are bringing lawyers.

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