While the onscreen action in upcoming would-be blockbuster The Watchmen is sure to be hot, the real knock-down drag-out fighting is going on behind the scenes, as movie studios Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox fight it out in court over who owns the rights to the film. The movie, based on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' comic book of the same name, is was directed  by Zack Snyder. It's in post-production now, and is slated for a March release. Both companies claim that they own the rights to the film version.

Yesterday, a judge denied Warner Bros.' motion to dismiss Fox’s lawsuit over Warner's right to make the film. The ruling means the legal fight will continue, and possible consequences include some sort of profit sharing between the two studios. Weirdly, Fox said it would rather see the film killed than collect a percentage of the box office.

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