Fox Contacted Warner Bros Before Watchmen Went Into Production

One of the most often asked fan questions about Fox's Watchmen lawsuit is: Why didn't the studio file the lawsuit before principal photography began and before millions and millions of dollars had been spent. Fans believed that Fox waited to "blindside" Warner Bros with this copyright suit after it was too late. Not so.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Fox source, "studio lawyers contacted Warner Bros. about the distribution rights issue several times prior to the start of production but were rebuffed."  If this is the case, then Warner Bros is the only one to blame for this whole mess. On the other hand, WB clearly saw this whole thing coming, which I would assume means that their lawyers believe without a shadow of a doubt that they own the rights to the project. Then again, the judge's ruling not to dismiss the case seems to prove that it isn't an open and shut case.