Who owns the rights to the artwork used in the TV show Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp?

October 11, 2011 2:24 PM

Who owns the rights to the logo artwork used in the 1970s kids TV show Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp?

From 1970 through 1972, Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp ran on Saturday mornings on ABC. The show was yet another spoof of James Bond and featured two opposing secret spy organizations: the Agency to Prevent Evil (APE) and Criminal Headquarters for Underworld Master Plan (CHUMP). Both organizations had very nice logos. Would the legal rights to those two logos be owned by the same company who owns the shows, would their creators have retained the rights, or would their rights have reverted back to their creators after a certain period of time? And is there any way to know any of this for certain?!?

posted by Jamesonian to Society & Culture (3 answers total)

The rights-holder to Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp is CBS nowadays.
posted by bronwensaurus at 3:15 PM on October 11, 2011

I don't think CBS owns the clip rights to the show. They might be re-broadcasting it, but that doesn't mean they can license the elements.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:13 PM on October 11, 2011

The Wikipedia article mentions a documentary about the show. Assuming they used footage from the show, they would've done the same research. Check the credits. Certainly it could've changed hands over time, but Lancelot Link ain't exactly a hot hollywood property.
posted by Sunburnt at 7:55 PM on October 11, 2011