The lawsuit claims that companies responsible for movie tie-in products are embarking on a "joint venture and conspiracy to exploit, profit from and utilise" the Ghost Rider copyright. Other companies named in this grand ring of collusion include Sony Pictures, Marvel Enterprises, Columbia TriStar, Hasbro, Relativity Media, Crystal Sky Pictures, and Michael De Luca Productions.
Friedrich’s suit details the 21 violations as using the character "in movie theatre presentations and promotions, commercials, action figure toys, videogames, clothing and novels." What sort of violations are we talking about here? Well, according to Friedrich: copyright infringement, violations of competition laws, negligence, waste, misuse and unauthorised use of characters, "tortuous interference with prospective business expectancy," and false advertising.
Whew. We’ll just have to see where this goes.
