There was a recent legal dispute between the family of the creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks and 20th Century Fox. Karman, wife of the late creators son, claims that she was a contributing writer for the “Squeakual” which was released last year. The Hollywood Reporter explains that Karmen went ahead and wrote a script for the sequel and when Fox offered her compensation for her work, she claimed it was inadequate. Fox took the script and edited it to create the final script for the film. Karmen claims at least half the script is of her creation and therefore she is entitled to half the profits from the successful “Squeakual”. They are also claiming that Fox is in violation of a producers agreement.
It seems like there was major miscommunication between the two parties. Had all of these provisions been clearly outlined in the agreements that the creator’s family signed, then the entire debacle could have been avoided. Just how much of Karmen’s original script was used in the final script? Even though she refused compensation, is her script still considered a work for hire and therefore the intellectual property of 20th Century Fox? It seems like the creator’s family did not anticipate the success of the sequel and are looking for a bigger profit after the fact. It boils down to the wording of their contracts and what the family originally agreed to. If Karmen really never agreed to give over her script, then they may have a case. If not, she really can’t complain after she signed a contract.
link to article: http://thresq.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/04/new-chipmunks-lawsuit.html
Major motion picture companies are like the insurance companies! When it comes to paying a claim; They want to pay as little as possible. Fox short changed the Bagdasarians on the toy line; which could have been very profitable! Janice Karman’s story; was half used for the script. Fox conducts itself as if it were the owners of the Chipmunks. Yet they are only the license
holders of this property. This will have to be a court issue!