Kirkman, Moore End Walking Dead Legal Conflict

The Walking Dead creators Robert Kirkman and Michael “Tony” Moore have successfully resolved a lawsuit over profits from the lucrative comics and TV franchise, causing joy to fans of the popular Image zombie comic and AMC cable television series around the world.

Both parties jointly told The Hollywood Reporter recently that they had ended their dispute:

“Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore are pleased to jointly announce that they have reached an amicable agreement in their respective lawsuits and all parties have settled the entire matter to everyone’s mutual satisfaction. Neither side will be discussing any details but will instead happily and productively spend their time focused on their own work and move on in their lives.”

In February, Moore sued Kirkman in California state court, saying he was entitled to as much as half the proceeds from the franchise.

In his lawsuit, Moore said that he had worked with Kirkman on the comic series and other projects while growing up with him. Moore felt Kirkman and his agents had duped him into assigning his interest in the material over to Kirkman, but that his deal supposedly granted him 60 percent of “Comic Publishing Net Proceeds,” 20 percent of “motion picture net proceeds,” and further financial interest in other projects.

Stating that he had never received much revenue nor any profit statements, Moore wanted a “rescission of the copyright assignment.”

All this caused Kirkman to respond that he had overcompensated Moore for his work and that he was entitled to money back. Kirkman also demanded damages because Moore had reportedly breached the confidentiality provision of their agreement.

Things had become very tense between the two creators. Moore called Kirkman “a proud liar and fraudster” in the lawsuit. Kirkman responded that “the lawsuit is ridiculous,” adding that Moore had indeed been paid for the first six issues of the Walking Dead comic book.

ComicBooked.Com’s Robb Orr commented on the conflict in this article.

However, at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Kirkman said that both  sides were working through the issue.

A notice of settlement was filed on Monday in California federal court, ending the dispute. There’s no word on just who got how much for how long, but at least the 16-episode third season of The Walking Dead can now begin on the AMC cable channel on Sunday, October 14, without this hanging over it.