Comic book legend Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, Hulk, the X-Men and many others) assigns his former company POW! in court. At 95, the screenwriter and publisher claims to have been abused regarding the purchase of his company. Focus!
Would Stan Lee have been cheated by Camsing International, the Chinese holding company that bought his company POW! ? This is what the nonagenarian argues and he did not hesitate to go to court to make it known. According to various court documents, Stan Lee would blame the poor conditions in which the contract was signed, his inability to manage his social networks as well as unclear or even hidden sales conditions. Let us dissect these three grievances:
- The sale in bad conditions: it should be known that shortly before this purchase, Stan Lee had lost his wife. In addition to the psychological disorder that this has generated, it should be noted that the creator suffers from macular degeneration. Clearly, Stan Lee no longer sees correctly because of his old age and he could not read the documents. Moreover, according to him, he is not even sure that these documents have been read to him, or even that he has signed them. Memory loss due to age or real abuse on the part of this Asian Holding? The elements of this case may be difficult to disentangle.
- The opacity of the conditions of sale: beyond the alleged abuse of weakness, Stan Lee claims that the conditions of sale of Camsing International had not all been disclosed. Among these rights, it was stated that the Holding would have exclusive rights to use Stan Lee's name and image. Something that obviously does not please the person concerned and rightly so.
- An exclusivity on social networks: who says "exclusive right on the image" says "exclusive right on social networks". Indeed Stan Lee also reproaches the control of POW! on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, accounts followed by millions of people. Another pill that has trouble passing for the legend of the comics, who did not hesitate to make it known on his social networks, via his very first personal tweet:
Today was the first day I ever did a tweet myself. Before today, my account was done by others. I still do not have control of my Facebook. Someone else is doing it, NOT me.
— Stan Lee (@TheRealStanLee) May 13, 2018
"Today is the first day I make a Tweet by myself. Before today, my account was managed by others. I still don't have control of my Facebook. Someone else is taking care of it. Not me."
At 95 years old, Stan Lee has not said his last word and does not intend to be fooled. And speaking of abuse (hello transition), it should be noted that Papy Stan Lee is not at his first appearance in the judicial news, since the latter was recently accused of sexual touching by various nurses or a massage therapist. Would we also be dealing with a perverted grandpa? Whether this is the case or not, it is not at his age that he is likely to worry about any conviction…
