Part 7/10:
Another critical point raised involves Disney’s corporate legal strategies. Neon explains that Disney often relies on contractual loopholes, like "work for hire," to retain ownership of characters, artwork, and concepts. This is exemplified by cases where they delay royalty payments, reset copyright terms, or leverage clauses that emphasize the company's ownership over individual creator rights. Recent issues concerning Star Wars writers and other franchises reveal a pattern of delaying or denying fair royalties.
The companies' fierce control over intellectual property means creators are often paid upfront and receive little beyond initial acknowledgment—not because they are uncredited but because the contractual framework favors the studio’s ownership.