Godzilla 85 finally?

[kpa]

If Toho's contract with New World was for 25 years wouldn't it have expired last year?

Yessir. In fact, it would have expired in 2010, I believe.

I look forward to what kpa finds out regarding all this.

Gvamp, in my last post I wote, "Toho hasn't told me any specifics about the contractual issues for GODZILLA 1985" and "my best guess is that Toho had a similar deal with New World". Nowhere did I say-- nor was I suggesting-- that there was a contract between Toho and New World for 25 years. What I said (and what I meant) is that Toho and New World may have had a long-term deal along the lines of what Toho did with Hanna-Barbera... as in all rights would revert to Toho after a set number of years. Since Toho recently said they were still waiting, obviously that means the deal was for more than 25 years. But exactly how long that may be has not been said.

Yeah, Keith is great to have around considering all the rumors and rampant speculation that go on around here (though I can't say I'm entirely blameless for the latter...).

Keith needs a custom title:
"TK's Resident Media God"

Thanks, guys!

There's always going to be new rumors and unconfirmed reports popping up, and sometimes they'll turn out to be true. But by sharing accurate info from direct sources we can all have a better chance of separating the facts from the fiction. I'm just happy to help when I can and to learn from you guys, too.

[wataru]

Keith, we really appreciate you using your contacts to quash these rumors on TK before they go ape-shit insane, like the March/April BS over DAM and Megs.

Between your website and contributions on TK, there really arent any RELIABLE sources of information, IMHO, on movies like this.

...and speaking of unreliable, anyone notice that August hasnt posted on TK in like 5 months? Pretty much as soon as his shoddy reporting was pointed out, he disappeared. Perhaps all this G85 rumor mucking is him trying to get some mythical ball rolling to claim credit for an initial G85 release?

[omgitsgodzilla]

Nah, he probably just saw all the backlash and got away. And he can probably live just fine without TK.

And Keith, pardon me for asking, but do you know anything about the path G85/RoG has taken between US distributors, or how one could find out?

[Gawdziller]

I talked to August a while back about his contributions to the MST sets. He answered his PMs quite promptly. He probably has e-mail notification, but he's not entirely gone.

[gvamp]

If Toho's contract with New World was for 25 years wouldn't it have expired last year?

Yessir. In fact, it would have expired in 2010, I believe.

I look forward to what kpa finds out regarding all this.

Gvamp, in my last post I wote, "Toho hasn't told me any specifics about the contractual issues for GODZILLA 1985" and "my best guess is that Toho had a similar deal with New World". Nowhere did I say-- nor was I suggesting-- that there was a contract between Toho and New World for 25 years. What I said (and what I meant) is that Toho and New World may have had a long-term deal along the lines of what Toho did with Hanna-Barbera... as in all rights would revert to Toho after a set number of years. Since Toho recently said they were still waiting, obviously that means the deal was for more than 25 years. But exactly how long that may be has not been said.

Nor did I insinuate in my post that you did say that I was just asking a hypothetical that if Toho did license G85 to New World for 25 years if the contract would have expired by now.

[Baradagi]

I really hope one day soon all of this gets sorted out so there won't have to be yet another thread on this title possibly coming to DVD. Until then, I'll continue to enjoy Toho's Bluray and my DVR recording of the New World version in HD.

[Tamura]

"Now this better be the real thing!"

[Cimmerian Dragon]

DVR recording of the New World version in HD.

Where and when did they broadcast this?

[Goji]

On the now defunct Monsters HD channel. It's very purdy. You can find it online with a little digging..

[kpa]

Nor did I insinuate in my post that you did say that I was just asking a hypothetical that if Toho did license G85 to New World for 25 years if the contract would have expired by now.

Sorry, but I honestly don't see the point in asking that question, hypothetically or otherwise. Toho said the issue was still in effect, New World licensed G85 more than 25 years ago... therefore the issue (whatever it is) is clearly not limited to a 25 year expiration.

And Keith, pardon me for asking, but do you know anything about the path G85/RoG has taken between US distributors, or how one could find out?

New World licensed theatrical, television and home video rights from Toho in May 1985. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation bought a stake in New World in 1994. In early 1997, New World was absorbed into News Corp. and no longer exists as its own company or imprint. As far as I know, New World held the rights to G85 all that time.

In 1992, a number of New World movies (including G85) were reissued on budget VHS by Starmaker Entertainment. I haven't looked into this thoroughly, but my understanding is the New World just sub-licensed some movies to Starmaker rather than Starmaker taking over the ownership of those films. Starmaker was absorbed into Ancho Bay, who reissued GODZILLA 1985 on VHS in 1998.

Television rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library are now held by Warner Bros and Lakeshore Entertainment. Years ago, the GM of Toho's LA office told me that Lakeshore had GODZILLA 1985, and the film was shown on Monsters HD by Warner Bros. Those TV rights have now expired so Toho should have them.

Home video rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library were once held by Anchor Bay. AB announced they would release GODZILLA 1985 on DVD, but Toho told them they had no rights to that film and AB dropped their plans. Image Entertainment now handles the 1984-1991 New World library, so (unless they've made some new deal directly with Toho) they may be under the impression (just like Anchor Bay before them) that G85 is included in the New World package.

[JoshK]

Why wouldn't the home video rights transfer to AB and Image?And furthermore, if neither or them own the rights, who does? And if no one, then what is the hold up?

[omgitsgodzilla]

^^I'm wondering much the same thing. It sounds to me like either News Corp. owns the rights now, which could allow a release through some imprint of theirs, or no one does.

[Goji]

Maybe since it's originally Toho's film, first and foremost. Or it could be because the character of Godzilla requires additional licensing fee's...I don't know. I too am not really sure about how this kind of stuff works. I'm starting to think that Image's film library acquired from Lakeshore doesn't include any of Toho's films this time around (for whatever reason). This includes the Americanization of SUBMERSION OF JAPAN that New World did entitled TITAL WAVE, which could be why we haven't seen a release of that here since the 80's.

Of course..none of my theories really hold any water considering Anchor Bay once released GODZILLA 1985 after acquiring New World's film library. So if Image now has Lakeshore's library, it doesn't surprise me that they're assuming they can release G '85.

[gvamp]

It really depends on the type of contract that was signed by Toho and New World back in the 80s, there could have been a clause in it that would have prevented companies like Anchor Bay to release the film.

In order to fully understand why G85/RoG hasn't gotten a proper home video release in the DVD age and now Blu-Ray age we'd have to see the orginal contract or talk to someone who has.

Keith are contracts usually divisible by five? What I mean is aren't they usually signed for a period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 etc etc. and never anything like a 12 or 6 year?

[Goji]

It's a damn shame this has happened with this film. I'd much rather an Americanization like GODZILLA 2000 be lost to the ages...*dodges massive coconut*

[Cimmerian Dragon]

On the now defunct Monsters HD channel. It's very purdy. You can find it online with a little digging..

I dig and dig...but if I found a little hint in my PM from anyone that might give me a general vicinity where I should be shoveling, I would be eternally grateful.

[Goji]

I will check with a few sources, and try to get back to you asap, Cimmerian.

[Baradagi]

Television rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library are now held by Warner Bros and Lakeshore Entertainment. Years ago, the GM of Toho's LA office told me that Lakeshore had GODZILLA 1985, and the film was shown on Monsters HD by Warner Bros. Those TV rights have now expired so Toho should have them.

This is the first I think I've heard of the television rights specifically having expired. Do you have a link or a source?

[kpa]

It really depends on the type of contract that was signed by Toho and New World back in the 80s, there could have been a clause in it that would have prevented companies like Anchor Bay to release the film.

In order to fully understand why G85/RoG hasn't gotten a proper home video release in the DVD age and now Blu-Ray age we'd have to see the orginal contract or talk to someone who has.

Exactly, unless Toho provides specifics (which they haven't) or you have access to the original contracts (which we don't), there's no way to know details like what rights may or may not have been transferable.

I'm using a completely imaginary, made-up example here... but let's say New World signed a contract with Toho granting them exclusive, non-transferable ownership of the movie for 40 years. Then legally, no one but New World could release the film and Toho wouldn't be able to do anything until the contract expired in 2025. And that's just one example of a million things that could have been written into the original contracts.

Keith are contracts usually divisible by five? What I mean is aren't they usually signed for a period of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 etc etc. and never anything like a 12 or 6 year?

The contracts would be for whatever the two sides agree to. There's no set rules about 5 year increments or anything like that. For example, Rialto's original deal with Toho for GODZILLA's theatrical rights was for seven years.

Television rights to New World's 1984-1991 film library are now held by Warner Bros and Lakeshore Entertainment. Years ago, the GM of Toho's LA office told me that Lakeshore had GODZILLA 1985, and the film was shown on Monsters HD by Warner Bros. Those TV rights have now expired so Toho should have them.

This is the first I think I've heard of the television rights specifically having expired. Do you have a link or a source?

Sure, Brad. I heard that from Toho. Also, someone on the MZ boards (I think it was KaiserGhidorah) contacted Lakeshore a year or two back and was told the rights had expired.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Hm. Looks like all we can do now is check back with Toho every so often, ruling out trying to get the deets of the contracts.