old news but a reminder and some quick DD for the newbies.
On December 13, 2005, POW! Entertainment (POWN.PK), announced that POW! Entertainment acquired the exclusive rights and ownership in perpetuity to the name "Stan Lee", his likeness, brand and signature slogans "Stan Lee Presents", "Excelsior" and "Stan's Soap Box". POW! also acquired most of the intellectual properties created by Stan Lee during the period beginning after his tenure as Marvel's chief creative officer, editor in chief, and publisher that predate POW! Entertainment. The rights are in addition to new properties that are currently being developed by Stan Lee for other major entertainment conglomerates on behalf of POW! Entertainment.
The agreements gave POW! Entertainment the rights to licenses and to receive royalties from Stan Lee's future and more recent creations that have been emerging in voluminous quantities since Stan Lee's negotiated release from Marvel. Marvel retains the exclusive rights to Stan Lee's former co-creations like Spider-Man*, The Hulk*, Daredevil*, X-Men*, Fantastic Four* and other Stan Lee originals while he was at Marvel.
Stan Lee says, "Over the years, I fortunately managed to maintain the rights to my name and other signature slogans that I have developed. I am ever so pleased POW! Entertainment is both the custodian and manager of my current and future works. POW! not only has a strong business management team but also has maintained a creative artistic element among its officers and directors."
POW!'s president, Gill Champion, says, "Although it is impossible to put a definitive number to the valuation of the 'Stan Lee' brand, we feel this truly is one of the most valuable assets an entertainment company could have in its portfolio. I equate it to the likes of owning the rights to the name and marks of Walt Disney or Warner Brothers. Stan Lee has become a literary legend and his creative talents have produced some of the most successful franchises of all time. His name and marks are part and parcel to our culture and it is with great honor that we have added this treasure of good will to our portfolio and consolidated the Stan Lee Brand under POW!'s ownership. Inclusive of all Stan Lee's Future Projects this acquisition includes rights to the licensing royalties in Stan Lee's most current works with many of them already in various stages of development. It is my opinion, from what I have observed the best of Stan Lee is yet to come. It is POW! Entertainment's intention in the months, years and decades to come, to introduce to the world a plethora of perhaps the most unforgettable Stan Lee character franchises of all time."
AI
