Sony Loses Battle With Bond

Court troubles settled over globe-trotting super spy...


by empire |
Published on

Resembling something of a Bond plot itself, MGM and Sony's court battle over the rights to make future Bond flicks has finally been resolved - and MGM have come out on top. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and partner Danjaq LLC, makers of Bond classics like Goldfinger and the recent hit Tomorrow Never Dies, and Sony Pictures Entertainment agreed MGM would have exclusive, worldwide rights to make Bond movies, ending the court battle which kicked off late 1997. He said MGM agreed to pay Sony $10 million to buy the rights for one of only two Bond movies that MGM and Danjag did not control, the 1967 film Casino Royale. Under the agreement Sony would not make a James Bond film for international distribution. Sony agreed to pay MGM $5 million to settle the issues in the trial -- namely who had rights to make and distribute Bond films in the United States, the spokesman added. "The end of this case reaffirms that James Bond resides at one address - that of MGM and Danjaq" stated MGM chairman, Frank Mancuso. At stake in the battle was MGM's exclusive franchise for Bond movies, which over 36 years (18 films of 20 Bond films), have generated near $3 billion in ticket sales. The most recent Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies, raked-in over $350 million in worldwide box office receipts alone.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us