Examples
One well-known example is Flash Comics #1 by Fawcett Comics, which introduced Captain Thunder (later Captain Marvel). Competitors had already published a Flash Comics title, and created a character named "Captain Thunder", so the Flash Comics ashcan failed to claim those trademarks for the company, but it did establish a publication date for copyright purposes.
Similar practices are seen in other industries; a well-known film example is the 1994 version of The Fantastic Four, produced by Roger Corman, made only to maintain the license to the property. The movie had a $2 million budget and was not distributed.
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Famous quotes containing the word examples:
“There are many examples of women that have excelled in learning, and even in war, but this is no reason we should bring ‘em all up to Latin and Greek or else military discipline, instead of needle-work and housewifry.”
—Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733)
“Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
“No rules exist, and examples are simply life-savers answering the appeals of rules making vain attempts to exist.”
—André Breton (1896–1966)