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Apparently this was all the result of a misunderstanding involving Oracle, who talked to Marvel and was planning a similar screening, and a lack of communication with Paramount. Too bad — I was hoping to see Mike and Marvel go toe-to-toe on this one \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
Original post:<\/b><\/p>\n
In yet another example of how not to do customer relations or PR of any kind, Mike Arrington has a stunning exhibit<\/a> from a lawyer representing Marvel, the comic powerhouse whose Iron Man character has become a major motion picture. Mike wanted to put on a social event for TechCrunch fans, so he booked a theatre<\/a> and planned to show the movie for free — although he asked for $1 per ticket to cut down on the no-shows. Wham! That is apparently verboten, according to Marvel’s lawyer.<\/p>\n “You have not been authorized to exhibit, sell tickets to, nor invite the public to an Iron Man screening.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As Mike points out, the whole process began with a phone call to the number listed on the official Iron Man movie website for “group sales.” So what is the Marvel guy’s problem? Hard to say<\/a>. Obviously, movie studios and content companies like Marvel have an interest in holding publicity premieres, etc. and also have relationships with movie-theatre chains, who don’t want to see just anyone rent a theatre and go into competition with them. But still — is that any way to handle such a thing<\/a>? It just makes Marvel look stupid, and mean.<\/p>\n