Are you folks familiar with Gary Friedrich? If you are, then that's good. If you are not, you better read up on him now because he is in a foul mood. Friedrich is the creator of character "Johnny Blaze" and alter-ego Ghost Rider back in 1968. Quite recently, he filed a lawsuit against those responsible for the movie and the video game for copyright infringement.

The said complaint was filed last April 4 in the federal court of Illinois claiming 21 violations. The defendants include Sony's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, producers Relativity Media, Crystal Sky Pictures, and Michael De Luca Prods, as well as Hasbro Inc. and Take-Two Interactive.

According to Friedrich, Marvel wasn't able to properly utilize and capitalize on the Ghost Rider character, not to mention the fact that the copyrights used in the film and in related products were reverted to him from Marvel in 2001. He added that Marvel failed to secure enough royalties, and companies Take-Two Interactive and Hasbro Inc. improperly created merchandise based on his creation.

A part of the lawsuit states,

In late 2006 or early 2007, the defendants herein wrongfully embarked upon a high-profile campaign, arrangement, joint venture and conspiracy to exploit, profit from and utilize plaintiff's copyrights, the Johnny Blaze character and persona, the origin story and the related characters and personas created by plaintiff, in various endeavors, including, but not limited to, the use of the same in movie theater presentations and promotions, commercials, action-figure toys, video games, clothing and novels.

It wasn't specified how much Friedrich is seeking for damages. Aside from copyright infringement, the mentioned companies are also accused of the following: violations of federal and Illinois state unfair competition laws, negligence, waste, tortuous interference with prospective business expectancy, misappropriation of characters, unauthorized use of the characters, and false advertising and endorsement.