General Discussions

Patrick Rothfuss and the campaign to buy Firefly rights.

POSTED BY: chapterandverse
UPDATED: Friday, February 25, 2011 23:45
VIEWED: 11747
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CHAPTERANDVERSE

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 3:46 PM

Already posted this under the Nathan campaign thread, but I think it deserves a little highlighting. Rothfuss is the author of The Name of the Wind and the upcoming Wise Man's Fear.
http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2011/02/an-open-letter-to-nathan-filli
on/

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 4:28 PM

Epic Loots!

This whole thing is cracking me up really, but not in a bad way, I think it's pretty awesome. Heck, I'd pitch in a few dollars.

Although, guys, you do realize Fox loses the rights in 2012 anyway, right?

FOLLOWMAL

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 5:02 PM

Interestingly the SyFy twitter account ( Craig Engler ) just said this:

"Q) @niassa I'm curious what your take is on the Firefly stuff going on? A) I'd love to see a fan-funded TV model succeed."

(I think there is very little chance of any of this working, having been involved with fan campaigns I know how futile they are, but it's nice to see Firefly getting this much attention.)

http://www.kidsneedtoread.org

FOLLOWMAL

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 5:04 PM

And... now I want to read Patrick's books. :)
They look really good.

http://www.kidsneedtoread.org

ZEEK

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 5:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Although, guys, you do realize Fox loses the rights in 2012 anyway, right?

That's what the word on the street is. Not sure what it means though. I mean if Fox loses the rights then where do they go? What sort of action can they take to regain the rights? Like if they produce something with the Firefly name in the next year do the right renew for 10 years. I could see them throw together a Firefly reunion show where it's just the cast, crew, writers, extras, or somebody who watched the show one time, etc. talking to the camera and boom 5 more years of rights. I'm not sure if that's how their rights work, but I wouldn't put it past them if that's how it goes. Especially when the internet is buzzing with people talking about buying the rights for millions of dollars

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 6:10 PM

I believe Joss would regain control of the television rights. He shopped around for another network after the series ended, but my understanding is that was more about campaigning them to buy the rights off Fox then it was Joss able to freely offer the series. And I guess Fox had a too steep price-tag for most networks.

If Universal wanted to make a point of it, they could argue they have a share or partnership of the franchise, but my understanding is they have the movie rights, and maybe some merchandising rights. Not television rights.

STORYMARK

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 6:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:

Although, guys, you do realize Fox loses the rights in 2012 anyway, right?

I see this repeated all the time. But I've never actually seen evidence of it being true.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

CHANNAIN

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 7:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:
And... now I want to read Patrick's books. :)
They look really good.

It's worth buying just for the single best highway robbery I've read in a fantasy novel in some time. There's a definite Browncoat influence there.

How Patrick writes is mystical, lyrical, incredibly thorough and engaging - he creates a sense of urgency to find out more. What's-her-face-Meyers did that with Twilight too, but Patrick actually knows how to WRITE!

Apologies to the Twilighters. I read them. And in my opinion, all four books could easily have been released as one. The Name of the Wind had as much happen in one book that Meyers spread out to four - and Patrick knows how to WRITE...

Oh... Sorry. I said that already, didn't I?

Veteran of the 2002 Throes of Cancellation—FFF.net fan since January 7, 2003
Doing the impossible makes us mighty
Minnesota Browncoats
http://www.mnfirefly.com/portal/html/index.php

BYTEMITE

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:44 PM

A clause in the contract agreement with Fox has television production rights expire ten years from signing (which would be 2012). You don't want to take my word for it, fine, but there's a reason you hear it repeated so often.

We've seen some small infighting over the parts to share in other franchise merchandising, such as the video game that peetered out. But if the rights of one of the parties expire, it becomes a much easier legal arrangement to navigate.

Universal would still have a stake in the franchise at least in regards to movie rights, and they even have a "no-new-tv-episodes until movie rights expire" clause, directed at Fox, but if Fox's rights expire, that concern becomes moot for Universal. They might then amend the contract and give production over to one of their tv network subsidiaries (Scyfy or NBC) if Joss is interested.

ZEEK

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BYTEMITE:
A clause in the contract agreement with Fox has television production rights expire ten years from signing (which would be 2012). You don't want to take my word for it, fine, but there's a reason you hear it repeated so often.

We've seen some small infighting over the parts to share in other franchise merchandising, such as the video game that peetered out. But if the rights of one of the parties expire, it becomes a much easier legal arrangement to navigate.

Universal would still have a stake in the franchise at least in regards to movie rights, and they even have a "no-new-tv-episodes until movie rights expire" clause, directed at Fox, but if Fox's rights expire, that concern becomes moot for Universal. They might then amend the contract and give production over to one of their tv network subsidiaries (Scyfy or NBC) if Joss is interested.

What is the source of these details though? Is there a browncoat somewhere who has access to these contracts?