JMS: Rights? Licenses?

[JBONETATI]

JMS,

Can you explain a bit about how rights work? I understand that WB owns Babylon
5 and Crusade. Does this mean that you actually have to get their permission
whenever you want to write something in those universes? Or can/did you reserve
those rights at the time you sold it to them? What about the other authors who
write the B5 novels or short stories?

And how do licenses fit in? Specifically regarding the B5 Magazine.

This is probably 'way too many questions, sorry.

Thanks,

Jan

[Jms at B5]

>Can you explain a bit about how rights work? I understand that WB owns
>Babylon
>5 and Crusade. Does this mean that you actually have to get their permission
>whenever you want to write something in those universes?

Yes.

>Or can/did you reserve
>those rights at the time you sold it to them?

Nope. Studios own series whole hog.

>What about the other authors who
>write the B5 novels or short stories?
>

Those are done under the purview of a license between the publisher and WB.

>And how do licenses fit in? Specifically regarding the B5 Magazine.
>

Company X pays WB Y dollars to use the B5 images/likenesses/material in a
product (magazine, book, toy, whatever) for Z years.

jms

(jms...@aol.com)
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