Bagdasarian Productions (also credited asBagdasarian Company) is an American production company founded byRoss Bagdasarian Sr. (also known as David Seville) on February 20, 1961.[1] The company holds the rights toAlvin and the Chipmunks and related intellectual property assets. The company is currently owned and operated in byRoss Bagdasarian Jr. andJanice Karman. The company has co-produced many television series, specials, and films and initiated multiple lawsuits to protect the characters.
Bagdasarian Productions sued for a payment of $100 million for a breach of contract. Bagdasarian Productions claimed that the entertainment company never intended to honor the agreement to promote the characters within family entertainment and animation arms. Bagdasarian Productions won their suit and regained control of the Alvin and the Chipmunks characters in 2002.[2][3]
Bagdasarian Productions suedCapitol Records for using Alvin and the Chipmunks' music without the permission of the production company. The licensing agreement, which gave the record company the right to manufacture and distribute songs, was signed in 1968 (about four years before Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.'s death) and was not seen again until 2007. Bagdasarian Productions claimed that the recording company had been making money on pre-1972 songs sung by The Chipmunks' outside of the music industry in films, television, and other ventures in violation of specific contractual language. Though Capitol Records initially won the case, the decision was reversed in 2010 when Bagdasarian appealed. The appellate court held that the productions company has the exclusive right to perform the recordings.[4][5]
Bagdasarian Productions sued for payment from (2005–09) of royalties because of a breach of contract. According to the suit, Capitol Records sent royalties to The Harry Fox Agency Inc., Bagdasarian Productions' former agent, who sent them back since the agency wasn't representing them anymore. The record company allegedly pocketed this portion of royalties for Bagdasarian Productions. The productions company claimed approximately $0.09 per song reproduced or distributed during the four years was due.[6][7]
Bagdasarian Productions sued for payment associated with Janice Karman's contributions to the script of the second CGI/live-action filmAlvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. Fox asked Karman to re-write the screenplay after the company was dissatisfied with their writer's initial draft. She sought 50 percent of the movie's profits. Additionally, Bagdasarian Productions claimed a breach of contract due to Fox licensing the film to HBO, decreasing possible revenue, and underpaid royalties on the film's soundtrack, theAlvin and the Chipmunks' soundtrack, and other merchandise. All claims ruled in favor ofFox.[8]
Bagdasarian Productions suedSt. Clair Entertainment Group for allegedly advertising and selling an infringing music album entitledA Tribute to Alvin and the Chipmunks online and in retail stores under the false notion that the album was authorized, endorsed by, associated, or affiliated with the productions company. Not only did the album use artwork that closely resembled The Chipmunks (credited as The Chipper Three) and the Alvin and the Chipmunks trademark logo, it also contained the same ten songs available on the release. The District Court issued an injunction against further production, distribution, marketing, and exploitation of products with the Alvin and the Chipmunks logos.[9][10]
Bagdasarian Productions suedBig Eye Records, a Los Angeles production company, and (among others) Orchard Enterprises, a New York distributor, for allegedly producing and selling an infringing music album entitledRenditions of Alvin & the Chipmunks by Calvin & the Chipmunk Rock Stars online as a cheap knockoff of theAlvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. This album not only used the Alvin and the Chipmunks trademark but also contained twelve identical songs from the original release. Bagdasarian Productions also sought damages of no less than $1 million. The District Court issued an injunction against any further production, distribution, marketing, and exploitation of products containing the Alvin and the Chipmunks logos.[11]
Bagdasarian Productions suedthe Jerry Naylor Company, based in Oregon, Megabop Records, based in London, and San Juan Music Group, based in New Jersey, for allegedly selling an infringing music album entitledA Tribute to Alvin and the Chipmunks online as a cheap knockoff of theAlvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Bagdasarian Productions also sought damages of no less than $1 million. The parties in question settled before giving a ruling.[12]
