Source: Anime News Network
On March 24, TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems filed a joint lawsuit against North American media distributor 4Kids Entertainment,
accusing the company of "underpayments, wrongful deductions, and unmet
obligations" and stating that 4Kids now owes the companies
US$4,792,460.36. The Hollywood Reporter website also states that the two companies have terminated their deal with 4Kids.According to the documents filed by the plaintiffs, the companies conducted an audit on 4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh!
business per their licensing agreement. This audit allegedly uncovered
the aforementioned underpayments, as well as a "secret" agreement with Funimation, allowing them to "exploit" the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise via home video and hide the added income from the plaintiffs. By hiding this income, TV Tokyo
and Nihon Ad Systems allege that 4Kids was able to pay them a smaller
share than would otherwise have been owed to them. The complaint
further alleges that 4Kids attempted to hide the secret deal rather
than disclosing it as required by their licensing agreement.Funimation is not listed as a defendant in the complaint.
More in the link.
Well this a serious blow to 4 KIDS as Yu-Gi-Oh! was their last Bread & Butter, though I am interested as to why Funimation is in the clear when they are mentioned as being part of a "secret agreement?"
That's hysterical, I hate 4kids. Yay! Hopefully nothing bad happens to Funimation, I hope they didn't know how naughty 4kids was being!!
I thought we all got past yugioh after we turned 12.
It's possible that Funimation wasn't aware of 4Kids' other dealings; they were only entering a legitimate business deal with 4Kids. That seems the most likely reason for not being involved there.
Isn't 4Kids the notorious dub company that tears the guts out of shows, including changing music and otherwise messing with the original vision of said shows, or am I thinking of something else?
Nope, that 's the one, Terg.
I'm happy that FUNimation isn't a defendant.
Me too, especially since I finally started collecting the One Piece boxsets that I've been meaning to do for ages.
Not to mention that, right now, they're the only hope of getting the rest of the Hellsing Ultimate series over here.
FUNIMATION: DUB SAILOR MOON!
You had your brush with death. Now live up to your dreams!
Why?
4Kids is dying anyway.
