Netherlands: Moulinsart SA loses certain rights to Tintin – Romandie.com

Netherlands: Moulinsart SA loses certain rights to Tintin

Hergé’s heirs can not claim rights to the use of extracts of Tintin albums, decided justice Netherlands. It was based on a document signed in 1942 by the designer of the famous reporter.

“It appeared a 1942 document (…) that Moulinsart is not able to decide who can publish images from the albums, and therefore does not have the relevant copyright in this case, “wrote the judges of the Hague Court of Appeal in their decision. It was taken in late May and sent Monday to AFP.

Moulinsart SA, the company responsible for the commercial exploitation of Hergé’s work (derivatives, multimedia, applications, etc. .), is often criticized for very aggressively defend the legacy of the designer. She sued and early 2012 a small Dutch association of Tintin fans, the Hergé Company was founded in 1999.

It has 650 members and publishes three times a year a magazine 32-40 pages entitled “Duizend Bommen” for its members. The articles on the work and life of Hergé are illustrated with vignettes from the famous albums.

Moulinsart SA asked judges to condemn the association for using the copies of comic boxes without prior authorization and without paying royalties.

Coup de theater

                   But during the appeal proceedings, counsel for the Company Hergé created the surprise by producing a document from 1942 in which the designer gives the exclusive right to publication of the adventures of Tintin albums the publisher Casterman . Achieved through expert Hergé remained anonymous, the document is not disputed by Moulinsart SA and the heirs of Georges Remi, alias Hergé.

If it’s jurisprudence, this judgment could cost Moulinsart SA, “the big question is whether other Tintin fans associations must continue to pay Moulinsart SA,” explained Stijn Verbeek, the secretary of the Company Hergé. “Perhaps a Belgian judge must make a ruling in that before it applies for Belgium”, he added.

Katelijn van Voorst, lawyer the association, the document is “very interesting for everybody, both abroad and in the Netherlands.” Similar Belgian association, “Friends of Hergé”, said he was still “too early” to say what the consequences of the judgment of The Hague.

(ats / 09.06.2015 1:59 )

(TTY / 09.06.2015 1:59) ->