Voltron Rights Are World Events Productions. LLC
St. Louis-based World Events Productions, Ltd., which develops, markets, and distributes various entertainment properties, including world-renowned ‘Voltron,’ announces today its uncontroverted ownership rights to its Voltron property in response to rumors circulating about a dispute regarding the same.
In February 2008, World Events initiated a lawsuit against Toei Co., Ltd., based in Japan, over Toei’s statement in January 2008 that it had never sold World Events the live action movie rights to the Golion and Die Rugger anime series that World Events had developed into the VOLTRON ® franchise. After World Events advised Toei that its statement was clearly contrary to contract documents Toei signed with World Events in 2000, and after World Events later filed suit in federal court, Toei, on March 27, 2008, finally retracted its claim to the live action movie rights. In a email addressed to World Events President, Edward Koplar, from Masayoshi Endo, Managing Director of Toei Animation, Endo states ‘After reviewing the settlement agreements with you signed in 2000 and after deliberation, I now acknowledge that Toei assigned all the rights concerning Golion or Voltron, including live action movies.
Although Toei ultimately acknowledged the rights of World Events, the two-month time delay caused questions to arise over rights ownership and brought an end to discussions between World Events and New Regency Productions regarding a live-action movie.
World Events is continuing with its lawsuit against Toei seeking compensation for the damages caused by Toei’s interference, misstatements and malicious actions. Ownership of the rights of Voltron is no longer a dispute.