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Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

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Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. is an American holding company founded in 1923[1][2] by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is based in Tarzana, California. The company holds the rights to the literary works of Burroughs that are still protected by copyright (a number of Burroughs' early works have passed out of copyright and consequently are in the public domain).

Burroughs was one of the first artists to incorporate, which he did for tax reasons and for more control over his works.[3] Burroughs' books were published through the company from 1931 (Tarzan the Invincible) through 1948 (Llana of Gathol), with one additional title (I Am a Barbarian) appearing in 1967.

The company remains in the ownership of the Burroughs family and manages and licenses Burroughs' works and characters, including Tarzan and John Carter of Mars.[4][5] In most of the world, the original work of Burroughs is now in the public domain.

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Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. has been involved in numerous legal actions over the years, even in cases where copyright on Burroughs' original work had expired.

The company successfully sued Gold Star Books in 1966 and forced the Tarzan series of books by Barton Werper to be taken off the market.[6]

In 2004, the company threatened Victoria University Press with a lawsuit[7] over author Nigel Cox's book Tarzan Presley, which blended the Tarzan mythos with the life of Elvis Presley. The book has not been reprinted since its initial publication.

In 2012, the company sued Dynamite Comics for trademark infringement.[8] Dynamite's series Lord of the Jungle and Warlord of Mars were based on Burroughs' novels that had fallen into public domain. However, ERB claimed that use of trademarked characters Tarzan and John Carter constituted infringement and unfair competition. Dynamite and ERB settled the claim in 2014, and signed a contract to clear the way for both series to continue.[9]

Authorized editions

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Starting in 2020, ERB, Inc. will be re-printing the complete literary works of Burroughs, accompanied by new artwork created by Joe Jusko, in hardcover format.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Creator Of Tarzan". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 2568. Western Australia. 11 May 1947. p. 23 (SUPPLEMENT TO THE SUNDAY TIMES). Retrieved 6 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia. , ...Since 1923, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., has been sole owner and exploiter of Tarzan...
  2. ^ Edgar Rice Burroughs: BIO TIMELINE 1920-1929, Compiled by Bill Hillman
  3. ^ Parreno, Jose Marti (2015) Engaging Consumers through Branded Entertainment and Convergent Media IGI Global ISBN 9781466683433 p61
  4. ^ "Jingle all the way: Trademark for sound in China, EU and USA". Lexology. June 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Brent Kendall (October 21, 2014). "New 'John Carter' Movie Planned as Rights Revert to Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc". Variety.
  6. ^ Authors: Werper, Barton, SFE: Science Fiction Encyclopedia
  7. ^ Tarzan has left the building, by Steven Price, 15 January, 2005, The Listener (New Zealand)
  8. ^ Tarzan May Not Say Much But He Is Worth a Lot, By Caroline Gousse, February 26, 2012, American University Intellectual Property Brief
  9. ^ JOHN CARTER: WARLORD OF MARS Jumps From Marvel To Dynamite Thanks to E.R. Burrough's Estate, By Newsarama Staff, May 20, 2014, Newsarama
  10. ^ "Official website of ERB Inc., creator of Tarzan® Lord of the Jungle®, Moon Men™, John Carter of Mars® and more! > Edgar Rice Burroughs".
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