Yes, I can read Wikipedia as well. But what you posted has to be broken down properly. "Author" means the the creator (i.e. owner) of the original work, if it's not a work for hire, which all work for Marvel and DC is. In this sense, it's referring to a screenplay as an original screenplay not based on source material (those exist, which is why there are separate Oscars for original screenplay and adapted screenplay). In short, an option is the exclusive rights to develop a movie based on source material. Unless Marvel and DC is making a movie for which there is no source material, creating wholly original works to incorporate into their cinematic universes, they already own the rights. And if they *are* doing that (seems unlikely, since they already have a lot of stuff to work with), then there are no comics to be purchased from others for stuff that's been optioned