Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

http://plairdblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/ ... -sale.html

This evening, my daughter Emily wisely advised me to make a statement about the MTVN/Viacom/Nickelodeon buyout of the TMNT property on my blog... so I am going to try to do that. I suspect it won't be the last statement I will make about this subject.

I will try to touch on some of the things that folks have inquired about, but I can't guarantee that all questions will be answered.

First, why did I sell the TMNT? ~Peter Laird

Pretty amazing.

Peace, maka

Dear Readers,
I wonder if Sensei Sakai would sell Usagi Yojimbo for 60 million dollars?
Maka, thank you very much for this interesting post.
Best wishes to all!
go

I wonder how this will affect any kind of future UY/TMNT crossover stuff. It seems like it might make it less likely to happen, but I don't really understand much about how this stuff works.

I think that giving up the rights to something I created would be hard, but I also think that 60 million bucks would be hard to turn down.

his reasoning makes sense. it sounds like owning the Turtles had become a full time job. now he can focus on other things and he doesn't have to worry much about making a profit.

can't blame him at all. i'm really curious to see what Nickelodeon does. they've made some really good shows.

Jet_Jaguar wrote:I think that giving up the rights to something I created would be hard, but I also think that 60 million bucks would be hard to turn down.

So true.

Not that it is necessarily any of my business, but I have to wonder how the property was valued 9 years ago when the other co-creator divested.

I find it strange though. Think about it to this day Finger's (sp?) estate has fought with Bob Kane's for creative acknowledgment of Batman, Siegel and Schuster's estate fought and won the creative rights over Superman.

I find it odd that Laird would sell TMNT lock, stock, and barrel and not at least latch on creative rights and the ability to over see his intellectual property. Even if he is no longer writing or drawing it, at least still have a grip on it to make sure no one else try to pull what Image pulled a few years ago. Or turn TMNT into something it never was.

http://ninjaturtles.com/ posted some info:

...Peter Laird has sold all intellectual property rights to the TMNT franchise to Nickelodeon. So Nick now owns the TMNT lock, stock and barrel. Of note, Peter did retain the right to publish up to 18 TMNT comics per year should he choose to do so - thus Mirage Publishing will remain in business at least until May, 2010.

Gallennon wrote:I find it strange though. Think about it to this day Finger's (sp?) estate has fought with Bob Kane's for creative acknowledgment of Batman, Siegel and Schuster's estate fought and won the creative rights over Superman.

I find it odd that Laird would sell TMNT lock, stock, and barrel and not at least latch on creative rights and the ability to over see his intellectual property. Even if he is no longer writing or drawing it, at least still have a grip on it to make sure no one else try to pull what Image pulled a few years ago. Or turn TMNT into something it never was.

He sold it because he'd try to micromanage everything if he had control. He just wants to relax and the only way he'll let himself is if he has no control.

Hello Usagi Yojimbo Dojoers,

I say good for Mr. Laird for selling it. $60 million means he and his family have the freedom to do whatever they want. He can even create TMNT comics (18 a year) if he wanted:

http://plairdblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/ ... uture.html

I wonder how his actions will affect the staff welfare at Mirage Studio.

Regardless, I've taken this as an example of the Buddhist teaching that everything changes. I think it is good to not be too attached to anything.

That's my thought for the moment.

Peace, maka

hi there!
I think that says it best, maka....
and what should'nt be forgotten is that whenever anybody in the years to come might want to open up a good tmnt comic book that person won't pass that matter without meeting peter laird's and kevin eastman's fine work.