Chapter 179: Legal Leeching

The united front of competitors was quite coordinated in their plans. For some reason or another, they've piled in their heads and somehow pulled through with an ensuing wave of lawsuit-esque criticism.

Creed Comics was their prime target at the moment but the interlinked connection between the companies under Creed Entertainment meant that everything was at risk.

Being sued and painted out to be pirating frauds is not good on all accounts. The attacks were out to claim some damage and they probably won't stop until it does so.

However, the extent of the damage to Creed's market performance isn't clear yet or rather, it would seem that there was no effect at all.

Creed single issues were still being sold out from its now 350,000 limited prints and Volume Books are still moneymakers that continue to accrue buyers as the popularity of Creed titles grew.

There must be some dissatisfied few out there who believed in the damaging claims but their absence wasn't too evident due to the numerosity of people who just want to know the next story.

This result was not all good though as countermeasures still need to be made against this enemy strategy.

----

As such, the Creed proprietors sat down and consolidated their plans with their legal team.

"Do I need to be present in any court hearing or whatnot that will ensue, Mr. Legalities?" Alexander asked as this matter was something he really didn't want happening. For someone that didn't want to be bothered by crowd commotions, being put into the spotlight is incredibly irritating.

"Unfortunately, you may have to, little boss." Mr. Legalities explained. "You're the creator of all the stories after all and the most central to all these claims."

This was not something he wanted to hear and Alexander could only knit his brows. He was inwardly cursing his enemies and coming up with ways to irritate them as payback.

He was usually calm with a lot of things and respond in the most logically correct manner but emotions are a part of life. It's just that being thrown out of his semi-low-key life and being put into a spotlight he didn't like was one of his emotional catalysts.

Of course, everyone in the room knew and was familiar with little boss Alex's stoicness and indifference. It had steady and soothing naturalness that was becoming charismatically distinct as time passes.

As such, everyone could tell from his furrowed expression and demeanor that the little boss was angry.

This sent many of them into a panic though. The shown emotions and expressions of their little boss were something that always stop them in their tracks.

For someone whose rare smile is considered an omen for Creed employees, what was the consequence of making the little boss angry?

Alexander was just inwardly managing his irritation for a minute or two, however, everyone else was already in some sort of overreactive frenzy.

Fortunately, Old Sullivan was there as well and he helped out to disperse the panic of the countermeasure team. "Mr. Legalities, is there anything you can do to ease a certain someone?"

"Ah...! Yes, Mr. Creed." Mr. Legalities churned quickly with his answers. "Not to worry though, little boss. The legal process is quite long and you might not even have to be present."

Alexander responded positively to that but he didn't have much hope. Lawful processes is an evidence-gathering battle and he didn't doubt that the enemy team is digging out whatever they could find about "Alexander Creed".

With only his grandfather and him on the Creed family tree, the chances of his identity exposure were high. Him and old Sullivan have already discussed this during their Watchmen sexualness discourse after all.

Now that people are determined to find out about the mysterious Creed creator, his ten-year-old identity is bound to be exposed. It may not be all bad though as the insurgent attacks may have to think twice about this scary underaged monster they were out to get.

"No need to appease me, Mr. Legalities." Alexander put aside his introverted quirk for now and focused on the countermeasures. "Just tell us about the matter of the lawsuit claims and out-prepared countermeasures for it."

Mr. Legalities was not one to dally, so he went on. "The chances of us losing are pretty low as we've already prepared and gathered many copyrights, trademarks, evidence, and every potential point that they have just come to light. After all, ever since I was under your employ, little boss, this had been my duty."

Sullivan and Mr. Legalities could only share a commending look towards the boy for this. The legal team had been gathering and prepared for this lawsuit problem for many months now and there was no denying that Alex's initiative was behind all of it.

It was as if he foresaw all the potential problems for all of his published titles and had his legal team have fortified defenses before the enemies could even think of attacking.

"For the comic book-related clamorings, it is just a matter of eye-rolls for the judges and jury." Mr. Legalities continued. "The back and forths of Marvel and DC copycat heroes have become quite cumbersome over the years that most have been resolved and settled out-of-court."

"Bizarro Superman, the so-called Watchmen originals, Daredevil, The Question, and Judge Dredd comeuppance are just troubles that came up for the sake of it." Mr. Legalities went on. "Bizarre isn't something exclusive to DC. The Watchmen problem is just an overrated act as superhero or hero likeness have guidelines that we have already prepared for. Even The Question and Judge Dredd problems fall under this category."

"Even Archie Comics filed a complaint over Hotaru and Shinri so that they don't feel left out. They claim that they own teenage romance genre which was quite stupid."

These were the troubles that weren't trouble at all. They were just forced and embarrassing claims that Creed Comics could win over with ease.

"The more troublesome ones come from Hasbro, pop-up screenwriters, and the so-called Mirage Studios." Mr. Legalities was a bit serious on this but it was only a bit.

"Hasbro and Takara's 'Transformers' toyline can still ensue if they want to and their attack on us is unnecessary. Although Japan's Diaclone toyline has existed earlier, the transforming robot concept is not owned by anybody. With all our Autobots and Decepticons being processed and registered, their attack on Cybertronian Chronicles is moot overall."

"As for the pop-up screenwriters with their RoboCop and Predator drafts, it is a matter of contention that involves the Writer's Guild of America." Mr. Legalities turned to the old boss for this. "Mr. Creed knows the matters of Hollywood more and script likeness is plaguing problem but also easily winnable by going about Hollywood rules."

"For Mirage Studios, a drawing of a turtle ninja with strapped nunchucks is their lifeline along with some drafts of a comic book that didn't see completion. The four turtle idea was also present and accounted for which means that they are the most problematic to tackle."

"In any case or all the cases that have been mentioned, corresponding evidence that tilts heavily to our side is already ready." Mr. Legalities simply wrapped it up. "I expect the entire process is a long haul that expends resources on our side and theirs. Their most likely motivation for doing all this is to run Creed Comics dry."

"Legal proceedings are like pitting two leeches to suck the blood of the other. It would seem that our enemies consider us as the fat leech and hope that they dry us with their combined leech force." Sullivan could only chuckle at all of this. Although that strategy was somewhat shameful, it should be quite effective.

It was too bad that the fat Creed leech is bound to become fatter to the point that the other leeches can be swallowed whole.

Sullivan was just wondering which to pick out first. Of course, that has to wait as legal proceedings and business expansions take a long, long, while.