Bill Willingham, the creator of the renowned comic “Fables,” said Thursday that he was making the work part of the public domain in response to an ongoing dispute with DC Comics. However, in a brief statement issued on Friday, the publisher stated that it would fight to retain ownership of the series.
“The ‘Fables’ comic books and graphic novels published by DC, and the storylines, characters, and elements therein, are owned by DC and protected under the copyright laws of the United States and throughout the world in accordance with applicable law and are not in the public domain,” the company stated. “DC reserves all rights and will take such action as DC deems necessary or appropriate to protect its intellectual property rights.”
Willingham, the creator of “Fables,” did not immediately answer to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Willingham claimed on Thursday, in a statement shared on his Substack, that “Fables” will become part of the public domain effective Friday, in response to what described as years of bad faith dealings by DC.
Willingham stated that he was able to do so because the contract he signed with DC Comics to create “Fables” gave him complete ownership of the property.
“The one thing in our contract the DC lawyers can’t contest, or reinterpret to their own benefit, is that I am the sole owner of the intellectual property,” Willingham wrote in part. “I can sell it or give it away to whomever I want.”
“I still can’t publish ‘Fables’ comics through anyone but them,” he added. “I still can’t authorize a ‘Fables’ movie through anyone but them. Nor can I license ‘Fables’ toys nor lunchboxes, nor anything else. And they still have to pay me for the books they publish. And I’m not giving up on the other money they owe. For better or worse, DC and I are still locked together in this unhappy marriage, perhaps for all time.”