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The writers responsible for writing books in the “Star Wars” universe meet and claim that Disney has not paid them royalties since the acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012.
While the “Star Wars” franchise is best known for its film and television projects, the Extended Universe was largely made up of novels and comics for several years before its resurgence in pop culture thanks to the streaming service Disney +.
In April, The Guardian reported that a task force made up of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, crime and horror writers had formed to persuade Disney to pay authors royalties. exceptional for novels and comics related to properties like “Star Wars”. “Alien” and “Indiana Jones”.
Prominent authors such as Neil Gaiman, Tess Gerritsen, Mary Robinette Kowal and Chuck Wendig have reportedly joined the group, which is called the DisneyMustPay Joint Task Force. The group is supported by Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America in partnership with Author’s Guild, Horror Writers Association, National Writers Union, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, according to the outlet.
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The authors of the “Star Wars” novels claim that Disney does not pay them royalties. (Lucasfilm)
The Hollywood Reporter notes that the task force lists several companies it has identified as owing money to authors, including three publishers owned or partially owned by Disney: Disney Worldwide, Marvel Worldwide (the publishing arm of Marvel Entertainment ) and Boom! Studios, in which Disney has a minority stake.
The outlet interviewed writers such as Walter Jon Williams, who wrote the 2002 novel “Star Wars: The New Jedi Order – Destiny’s Way,” who claimed the company never paid it royalties or provided a adequate route with which to pursue the problem.
The outlet notes that Disney’s stance on the matter has to do with its acquisition of Lucasfilm does not extend to third-party publishers with whom the authors made their first royalty agreements.
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Disney representatives did not immediately respond to Fox Business’s request for comment.
However, a representative told THR: “We are carefully reviewing whether any royalty payments may have been missed as a result of the integration of the acquisition and will take appropriate corrective action if so.”
The task force and the battle for royalties that followed began when science fiction and fantasy writers from America got involved after author Alan Dean Foster, who wrote the novels “Star Wars” and ” Alien, “said publicly that he had not been paid from the mouse. House acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 and 20st Century Fox in 2019 respectively.
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At the time, Foster said his situation was serious given that his wife had “serious medical problems” and revealed he was diagnosed with advanced cancer in 2016.
“We could use the money. Not the charity: just what owes me,” he said at the time (via The Guardian).