Marvel got a court to side with them and, among other things, prohibit Friedrich from advertising himself as "the co-creator of Ghost Rider" and owing Marvel $17,000. (Several comic pros did sketches or gave original art to raise funds to pay this, like Neil Adams, Eric Powell, and Mike Mignola. These men are heroes. Honor them as such.)
Well, the rubber band just snapped. The Second Circuit Court Of Appeals just ruled that the contracts Friedrich signed are ambiguous and vague, and a full-blown trial is needed to sort this out and determine if Friedrich does indeed own part of the character.
What will Marvel do now? Pay him to go away? Fight? Ghost Rider is no longer a viable commercial property, as the last movie bombing out proves. Or will they go through with it just to fuck with Friedrich for daring to oppose them, like they did with Steve Gerber?
The Ghost Of Steve Gerber is looking at the ruling as I write this. He's very curious how this will end, as well.
