Disney Attempts to Withhold Royalty Payments from Veteran Star Wars Author

[BUtterfield 8 41,251]

It appears that Disney’s terrifying control over the Star Wars franchise is continuing, as The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America have made public an attempt by the global entertainment conglomerate to withhold rightfully owed royalties to  Alan Dean Foster, the veteran Star Wars author responsible for penning some of the franchises’ most important novels.

According to a recent statementpublished by SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal, Foster first approached the guild in 2019 with an issue regarding a payment dispute, claiming that “he had written novels and was not being paid the royalties that were specified in his contract.”

Though she notes that “as part of our negotiating toolbox, we guarantee anonymity for both the writer and the publisher if the grievance is resolved,” due to the extenuating circumstances of this particular case, Kowal revealed that the party causing issues for Foster was none other than the House of Mouse.

“When you purchased Lucasfilm you acquired the rights to some books I wrote,” explained Foster in a statement addressed to Disney. “STAR WARS, the novelization of the very first film.  SPLINTER OF THE MIND’S EYE, the first sequel novel. You owe me royalties on these books.  You stopped paying them.”

Foster’s Star Wars novels are not the only books for which Disney is withholding royalties, as the author notes that “when you purchased 20th Century Fox, you eventually acquired the rights to other books I had written,” which included “the novelizations of ALIEN, ALIENS, and ALIEN 3”, a trio of novels for which Foster claims Disney “never paid royalties on any of these, or even issued royalty statements for them.”

“All these books are all still very much in print,” Foster pointed out. “They still earn money.  For you.  When one company buys another, they acquire its liabilities as well as its assets.  You’re certainly reaping the benefits of the assets.  I’d very much like my miniscule (though it’s not small to me) share.”

The author also claims that the company wanted him to “sign an NDA (Non-disclosure agreement) before even talking”, with Foster claiming that “never once did anyone ever ask me to sign one prior to negotiations” and asserting that it was done “for the obvious reason that once you sign, you can no longer talk about the matter at hand.”

“Every one of my representatives in this matter, with many, many decades of experience in such business, echo my bewilderment,” he added.

Foster then described how Disney continues “to ignore requests from my agents”, “ignore queries from SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America”, and “to ignore my legal representatives”.

“I know this is what gargantuan corporations often do,” he admitted. “ Ignore requests and inquiries hoping the petitioner will simply go away.  Or possibly die.  But I’m still here, and I am still entitled to what you owe me.  Including not to be ignored, just because I’m only one lone writer.  How many other writers and artists out there are you similarly ignoring?”

To further complicate matters, Foster then reveals how both his ”wife has serious medical issues and in 2016 I was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer,” but notes that “We could use the money. Not charity: just what I’m owed.”

“I’ve always loved Disney,” concluded Foster. “The films, the parks, growing up with the Disneyland TV show.  I don’t think Unca Walt would approve of how you are currently treating me.  Maybe someone in the right position just hasn’t received the word, though after all these months of ignored requests and queries, that’s hard to countenance.”

Kowal then offered further insight into the legal battle, describing how Disney is attempting to argue “ that they have purchased the rights but not the obligations of the contract.”

“In other words,” “they believe they have the right 2 publish work, but r not obligated 2 pay the writer no matter what the contract says.”

Source

[weed 72,443]

Disney is corporate trash 

hope he gets at least something out of it, only public backlash will cause anything imo with Disney’s power 

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

Inb4..."CoRoNa CuTbAcKs"

[dirrtymonster 1]

Ugh Disney gets worse with age

[RRR 3,996]

Everyone knows Disney ruined the Star Wars franchise and are also very cutthroat when it comes to business, but not paying authors their royalties Who knew

[Kadikaado 4,302]

Where's the pest control? There are some nasty rodents in here!

[AndyDWUW 3,971]

Disney is a monopoly at this point.

 

Needs to be broke up ASAP

[Guest]

I still can’t believe Disney now own The Simpsons  in 2040 they’ll probably run the country 

[HotLikeMexico 4,951]

1 hour ago, LadyGoo said:

Everyone knows Disney ruined the Star Wars franchise and are also very cutthroat when it comes to business, but not paying authors their royalties Who knew

Not when the prequel films exist and George Lucas ****ed that up. 

[FrederickSpears 2,072]

That is just wrong. Disney needs to pay up ASAP. 

[Born This Way 1,786]

I was worried it was Timothy Zahn. Weird that they're doing this.

[PSYCHOSHTICK 2,740]

3 hours ago, JOSHMATICA said:

I still can’t believe Disney now own The Simpsons  in 2040 they’ll probably run the country 

Mickey for president 

[Andreu 37,216]

42 minutes ago, ChristianDior said:

Mickey for president 

Well they already had Donald