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Macross Lawsuit
posted on by Christopher Macdonald
Harmony Gold does not own Macross License - Japanese Courts rule
Our good friend Jason Gong has informed us of an ongoing legal litigation between Harmony Gold & Tatsunoko and Big West over the Macross License. Harmony Gold, which has always claimed exclusive ownership of the Macross License, has blocked the North American importation and release of Macross based merchandise in the past and licensed the Macross Anime to AnimEigo for DVD release.
However a recent Japanese ruling states that Tatsunoko, the Japanese company that originally sold the Macross license to Harmony Gold, did not own the Macross license in the first place and was never in any position to sell that license to Harmony Gold. According to the ruling Big West, the original creators of Macross, own the international rights. Based on this ruling Big West has obtained an injuction barring Harmony Gold from selling or licensing further Macross merchandise.
The Robotech "Macross Saga", which is based on Macross, is in no way affected by these ongoing legal matters.
Japanese Source: headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20020226-00002068-mai-soci
However a recent Japanese ruling states that Tatsunoko, the Japanese company that originally sold the Macross license to Harmony Gold, did not own the Macross license in the first place and was never in any position to sell that license to Harmony Gold. According to the ruling Big West, the original creators of Macross, own the international rights. Based on this ruling Big West has obtained an injuction barring Harmony Gold from selling or licensing further Macross merchandise.
The Robotech "Macross Saga", which is based on Macross, is in no way affected by these ongoing legal matters.
Japanese Source: headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20020226-00002068-mai-soci
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