The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Mike S]

There is no definitive "answer" in that this has never been litigated. That said, I'm a lawyer and a recovering comic book fan, I've read the contract and the Wikipedia entries, and I've seen how GotG has been handled in DHS--and I say the Guardians themselves (excluding their villains) are not covered. Good enough?

(I can PM my CV if that will help ... the comic book stuff won't be on it tho.)

Contract is pretty clear--member or villain. Guardians are neither.



Exactly. They pitched a fit over the monorail. Preview and meet-and-greets certainly would not fly if they thought they had the rights.

ONLY argument I see is re: proposed "The Marvel Universe" stores/restaurants. But (1) it's not clear to me TMU encompasses any characters beyond those at IoA (that is the really tough interpretive question). And (2) DHS is clearly a theme park, but by definition, TMU is not a theme park.

Thanks. It's great to have a lawyer come in and answer this. Now the only question left is if TDO would open the purse strings for a ride (not getting my hopes up).

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Thanks. It's great to have a lawyer come in and answer this. Now the only question left is if TDO would open the purse strings for a ride (not getting my hopes up).

By ride, you mean Meet & Greet, right?

 

[Mike S]

By ride, you mean Meet & Greet, right?

Of course, how silly of me


Btw I was originally going to write "attraction" but thought I should be more specific

 

[misterID]

As much as Universal is doing fantastic things up the road, the fawning foaming fanboiz of Comcast have essentially done and killed my attention span when it comes to Uni v Disney. (I just dont care anymore because they're so **** insufferable.) Universal is doing some great work, I still think they have long strides to go when it comes to guest service.

I find inaction, inactivity and squeezing every dollar to be a greater threat to the Mouse than "The House of the Philadelphia Flyers" Comcast. Disney does more harm to themselves by sitting back and doing nothing. In the post 2001 years, Disney had a golden opportunity to drive a stake into Universal's Orlando market share but instead chose to do nothing because while Universal was owned by Blackstone, absolutely nothing happened. (See all the Busch parks these days for current examples of Blackstone's crap)

It would not take much on Disney's part to get the buzz back in Orlando, but the longer they wait, the more money they'll have to spend. Star Wars is coming, just not as fast as we want. A Studio's makeover is coming, just not as fast as we want.

The biggest problem with the folks at the head of Parks and Resorts? They believe that the guests will always come. Same with the divine right of kings of the middle ages, the idea that "it will always be this way." Inaction will always prove foolish whereas investment will always be the key. If you want the guests to always come back, you have to always give them something new.

(And how are they supposed to hit margins for next FY and improve on the revenues of all these upcharge parties!??!)

Disney's inaction has always been a problem, and the continued growth and expansion of UNI is helping the spread of "fanboyism" because there's something actually to get excited about in regards to a theme park... Just like how Disney used to be... I remember those days... Nothing could touch WDW, there was always something new around the corner, UNI was a step up from a BG park, just a blip on the radar... And then Comcast came in, took a look around, saw the opportunity Disney had created and invested... And Disney never responded.

UNI has to take into consideration the market WDW has that they haven't even began to even sniff at... The family experience. They need more rides for the family, until then, no amount of expansion is going to shift the debate on who has the upper hand in Orlando. I am very interested in the future expansion and UNI third gate.

We will see when there is a changing of the guard, and the next person steps in Iger's place. It could be an Iger puppet, or we could get the next Wells/Eisner pairing. That's what it will take to see change.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Not to delve into the topic but am I the only one who thinks throwing the preview in, hanging posters and having character appearances are them testing how far the can go? I also think they aren't sure how much they can push the matter.

I'm not reading anything into that.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I'm not reading anything into that.

The only thing actually interesting is their brand obsession with Disney and Marvel... Everything the post in the parks about GotG they chop out the Marvel logo that accompanies all MCU film logos. Is that their separation of brands gone wild? Lol

 

[CDavid]

The only thing actually interesting is their brand obsession with Disney and Marvel... Everything the post in the parks about GotG they chop out the Marvel logo that accompanies all MCU film logos. Is that their separation of brands gone wild? Lol

As I understand the contract, Disney is specifically prohibited from using the "Marvel" name (or logo) even in instances where Marvel characters/properties may be used in Walt Disney World. In other words, while Disney presumably can use "Guardians of the Galaxy", it can't be "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy".

 

[lazyboy97o]

The only thing actually interesting is their brand obsession with Disney and Marvel... Everything the post in the parks about GotG they chop out the Marvel logo that accompanies all MCU film logos. Is that their separation of brands gone wild? Lol

IV. B. 1. a. 1. iii. East or West of The Mississippi - permitted uses shall be limited to the use of specific Marvel characters and Marvel may not permit a licensee to use the name “Marvel” as part of the attraction name or marketing.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The only thing actually interesting is their brand obsession with Disney and Marvel... Everything the post in the parks about GotG they chop out the Marvel logo that accompanies all MCU film logos. Is that their separation of brands gone wild? Lol

I think that is what keeps them from having an issue all thought I personally think that they have gone as far as they can go in the parks without renegotiating the agreement.

I think that if it was a cut and dry argument, we would've seen more in the studios. However, we saw a one time thing during a one time hard ticket event.

That being said I have two specific thoughts here.

First, there is no way in hell that this licensing agreement goes away. It will continue lawn again and again and again because it is in the best financial interest of both companies. Disney is making money off of Marvel in Orlando without having to make any capital expenditures. That's as far as you have to look there.

Second, it's likely that the lawyers will behind-the-scenes work to clarify the ambiguity in the agreement that we have seen publicly.

Either way, Star Wars is the future of Disney's Hollywood Studios, not marvel.

 

[WildcatDen]

Do you think I abuse mine daily?

Man, if I did not know the topic, I sure bet their is a joke in there somewhere. . .

So, the survey asked about LOTR? Was the question framed as "What will be your response if Universal gets Lord of the Rings rights?"

 

[lazyboy97o]

First, there is no way in hell that this licensing agreement goes away. It will continue lawn again and again and again because it is in the best financial interest of both companies. Disney is making money off of Marvel in Orlando without having to make any capital expenditures. That's as far as you have to look there.

Second, it's likely that the lawyers will behind-the-scenes work to clarify the ambiguity in the agreement that we have seen publicly.

The agreement is perpetual and all disputes are handled in arbitration, which is not a matter of public record.

 

[AEfx]

Good points all, but the whole point of Touchstone is that the movies weren't "Disney." The name kept the parent brand pure. With Marvel and SW--be it Disney Infinity or SWW or other forms of cross-promotion--everything sort of falls under the big Disney umbrella.

I'd say that was the case for Miramax, but Touchstone was definitely part of the Disney brand once it became successful - particularly in the theme parks. There definitely was Touchstone content at the Studios (like using a Touchstone star like Bette Midler in the backstage tour, other content there from Touchstone releases, etc.) from the start.

 

[Mike S]

As I understand the contract, Disney is specifically prohibited from using the "Marvel" name (or logo) even in instances where Marvel characters/properties may be used in Walt Disney World. In other words, while Disney presumably can use "Guardians of the Galaxy", it can't be "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy".

I'm guessing that doesn't extend to a movie poster since the one on the back of GMR clearly had the Marvel logo on it (I really should have taken a picture, don't know why I didn't).

 

[lazyboy97o]

I'd say that was the case for Miramax, but Touchstone was definitely part of the Disney brand once it became successful - particularly in the theme parks. There definitely was Touchstone content at the Studios (like using a Touchstone star like Bette Midler in the backstage tour, other content there from Touchstone releases, etc.) from the start.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Nightmare Before Christmas were both originally Touchstone releases and we all know how much Roger showed up in the parks.

 

[Figments Friend]

Funny enough - kid of the video game generation (born late 70's, so I did luck out and get a soul before they ran out in the early 80's), rented movies at least two weeknights a week, saw at least one film in the theater a week (if not two) every weekend, yet...I still have yet to see the original. As a kid, I remember looking at that sad dirty white-rimmed Live Action Disney VHS case and thinking it was cheesy and outdated then, LOL. If I really thought of it at all, though I do recall seeing the case in the "Family" section long after I stopped getting films there.

But I just happened to have a copy of the Blu-ray fall in my lap of Legacy, so I figured what the heck. I'll definitely be checking out the original now (though I don't expect to be blown away LOL). I wasn't entirely blown away with Legacy, but it was very good - a lot of potential, and it was really well plotted/thought out - much more so than your standard tent pole where basically they make a list of some situations/scenes and then randomly assemble them and call it a plot.

I highly recommend seeing the original *Tron* film from 1982.
Difficult for newer viewers today to look at it and understand what a breakthrough picture it was as far as computer animation and the clever ( though labor and cost involved )process in which that look was created.
It is a amazing film considering what was involved in putting it together, and quite interesting to view in hindsight as it touches on many computer concepts that eventually came to pass in the years that followed.

The story is also very metaphorical...which flew over a LOT of heads back in the day, and even today for some viewers. I have a friend who loves *Legacy* but cannot get his head around the original *Tron*.
He just cannot understand the personification of computer programs - operations being played by actors.

I love the original, and enjoyed the sequel, quite a bit.
The design work done in both is stunning, and i am not talking about the effects necessarily.

Do have a look.
If anything, it will at least let you further enjoy your next viewing of *Legacy* as you will then notice all the sly references to the original film.

 

[Nubs70]

Julia Roberts' Side got me through middle school.

Rebecca Demorney(sp?) and the sliding door curtain. Ah memories

 

[Figments Friend]

Spirited Survey Says:

So, sitting here watching @Lee 's (and @HTF 's) Seahawks open the 2014 NFL season when I happen to see a Disney survey in one of my 12 in-boxes. And we all know how I love to give Disney free consulting work (you know, the kind they pay folks six and seven figures for annually).

The survey was about my last visit to DLR and, specifically, adding Marvel characters. You know my answers weren't pretty and they don't need my name to know the world-famous Spirit/WDW1974 responded honestly to their questions.

............

What I most got out of it was Disney is concerned that Marvel isn't a good fit (my answer to the Marvel Universe question was: Expensive tentpole films, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Bob Iger's ego, btw) and is going to take increasing their presence at DLR slowly.

Thought about a separate thread for this, but then thought this is as good a place as any.

Your thoughts?

I personally agree in that Marvel should not be placed in DL.
If Disney feels it needs to be represented in Anaheim, it should be over at DCA where it fits better thematically...not Tomorrowland.

If the impression you received from the survey made it seem Disney feels that Marvel is *not a good fit* then to me that is a sign of relief.
They may now be better understanding that to do a proper Marvel tie in, they need to move it across the esplanade.
This makes me pleased to here as i find their presence in TL a bit odd.

 

[misterID]

Rebecca Demorney(sp?) and the sliding door curtain. Ah memories

Phoebe Cates, swimming pool, red bikini.

Jennifer Jason Leigh - the geek date.

And every single 80s comedy that involved spring break, beach resorts, and nerds.

 

[Nubs70]

The agreement is perpetual and all disputes are handled in arbitration, which is not a matter of public record.

Who is paying the arbitrator? Arbitrators can be less than middle of the road. Seems like just another avenue for negotiations.

 

[Figments Friend]

I am very concerned about Marvel in Anaheim. I don't want them in the parks much more than they currently are ..... but I don't want Anaheim's eventual third gate to simply be Disney Marvel's World of IP. I just see Marvel and Disney clashing so badly and damaging both BRANDS.

Completely agree with this sentiment.
Keep Marvel to a bare minimum if needs exists.
Marvel does not belong within the gates of DL Park.