Judge Makes Ruling in "Watchmen" Case

Fox is going to receive a hefty Christmas bonus this year as Judge Gary Allen Feess has ruled in their favor when it comes to the distribution rights of the movie adaptation of the comic book "Watchmen." The huge problem for Warner Brothers is this: Warner Bros. already paid for and shot the film.

The big dispute began when Warner Bros. failed to recognize a contract that had already been written up between Fox and Watchmen producer Larry Gordon, as Entertainment Weekly reports. The contract spelled out that if Gordon was to compile a new version of "Watchmen," he had to first offer it to Fox before any other company. Fox then could accept or pass on the concept, and only then could Gordon take the project elsewhere.

Judge Feess's December 24 ruling notes that Gordon never properly presented Fox with his latest concept for "Watchmen," which was instead picked up and produced by Warner Bros. In fact, Fox's lawyers say that they tried to contact Warner Bros. prior to the film's production but had no success.

Now Warner Bros. has asked the judge to make an additional ruling, one that will spell out exactly how much money they will have to hand over to Fox. This ruling will take place on January 20, 2009. All fans can do now is wonder how this predicament will effect the movie's slated release date which is coming up soon, on March 3.