Warners in Heap of Holiday Litigation

A surprise ruling on Dec. 24 gave Fox the controlling distribution rights to the blockbuster "Watchmen" film, which Warners planned to release on March 6. Though the case was slated to go to trial Jan. 20, the ruling, which could endanger a major franchise for the studio, instructed the two parties to begin discussing a settlement or start preparing an appeal. Meanwhile, Warners filed suit against CBS on Dec. 23 claiming it is owned $49 million for the hit sitcom "Two and a Half Men." The studio was also sued itself by producer Gavin Polone over the TV drama "Gilmore Girls," which ended its seven-season run on the WB and CW in 2007. The show is still $53 million in the red, but Polone claims he is owed tens of millions in revenues.