In an effort to regain the motion picture and TV rights to DICK TRACY, Tribune Media Services is suing Warren Beatty, reports REUTERS. In papers filed last week, Tribune states that Beatty "wrongly claims" the rights exclusively.
Beatty had purchase the rights to the yellow hat-wearing detective in 1985, later starring and director a feature film based on the character in 1990.
Tribune Media Services is part of the bankrupt Tribune Co., which is arguing that because Beatty has "made no productive use" of the rights in more than 10 years that the rights should revert back to them.
Tribune and Beatty have been in and out of court over the issue since 2006. Beatty, in November, claimed that he had started development of a DICK TRACY TV series. However, Tribune claims that the project is only an attempt by Beatty to retain the rights and not a series effort to create a project that will produce revenue.
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