Possible big trouble for Universal About This Page:

[jhoshowski]

Disney to buy Marvel for $4 billion

Walt Disney Co. will purchase the comic book company behind X-Men and Spider-Man, pending shareholder approval.

Disney to buy Marvel for $4 billion - Aug. 31, 2009

I have to imagine that they would not allow Universal to use the Marvel characters if this sale goes through!

[scottjs]

Its gonna be interesting to see what happens.

[Shell_of_the_South]

I would say that the rights to use the Marvel characters is already in place, so I don't know if a new owner could come and undo it. I think Universal Hollywood removed the Marvel name from their park a year or so ago.

[Griffin]

I just read this as well. This is a huge huge story to me. I'm not sure about Universal, did they get the rights for life or just a certain amount of years? This is going to be big for Disney. Movies, Comics, Theme parks...yowsa!

[srsatkowiak]

They are also talking about it here: Disney to acquire Marvel

[Shell_of_the_South]

According to this article by The Orlando Sentinel, Universal has a perpetual contract for the Marvel characters for as long as the attractions are in operation:

Disney acquiring Marvel Entertainment Inc. -- OrlandoSentinel.com

According to Universal's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Universal Orlando retains American rights east of the Mississippi River for as long as its attractions are in operation.

I think the attractions are ok for now!

[wvugrrrl]

I read an article on Jim Hill today that broke down the acquisition and compared it to Disney acquiring the Muppets. It's been in the past few years that Disney's really stepped up with using Muppet merchandise (the Kermit "It's Easy Being Green" Recycling shirts keep popping in my head) in their stores, and that's basically because the rights/ties that other companies had on the Muppets FINALLY expired. So essentially it could be 10-15 years before we start truly seeing Marvel stuff at WDW. And no one seems to know how long Universal's got ties to Marvel in their theme parks, but personally, IMHO, if they were smart, they'd let Disney take over the characters, and they'd continue re-theming that section of IOA with more Harry Potter.

This article also stated that deals with movie studios for rights to certain characters/movies will stay with those studios until those rights expire. Therefore, Spidey will stay with Sony pictures, Iron Man will continue being made by Marvel Studios/Paramount, etc. at least until those projects either get made to completion (ie if they're contracted for 10 Iron Man movies, then all 10 will get made/distributed by those companies), or their options expire (a lot of story's "rights" get acquired by studios who think they might have a good story on their hands, but then sit on a shelf because other "more interesting" stories get made into films first).

Now, another article that I read (and of course, have lost the link for in my History folder) stated that Universal let their option expire for actually HAVING physical characters in their parks. So, we might very well start seeing Spiderman, the X-Men, Iron Man, etc walking around Disney Parks very soon.

Either way, as a Disney stockholder, I'm very excited about this acquisition. Marvel stocks, while not crazy fantastic, certainly do much better than Disney, so I'm not complaining about the bottom line!

[Shell_of_the_South]

Originally Posted by wvugrrrl

Now, another article that I read (and of course, have lost the link for in my History folder) stated that Universal let their option expire for actually HAVING physical characters in their parks. So, we might very well start seeing Spiderman, the X-Men, Iron Man, etc walking around Disney Parks very soon.

As far as I know, the characters still appear at Universal Orlando. The contract is up for Universal Hollywood. We've had photos with the characters fairly recently, and Universal still offers the character breakfast with Spidey I think.

The contract for using Marvel characters in the attractions is perpetual, so as long as the attractions are in existance, they can keep the Marvel characters.

[wvugrrrl]

Originally Posted by Shell_of_the_South

As far as I know, the characters still appear at Universal Orlando. The contract is up for Universal Hollywood. We've had photos with the characters fairly recently, and Universal still offers the character breakfast with Spidey I think.

You are CORRECT! I forgot to throw in that little bone - I wish I could find that article - it did specify that DL would probably see the characters before WDW.

[chezp]

DH mentioned this to me last night and we straightaway thought of Universal, but I figured they'd have contracts in place. Be interesting though when they're due for renewal.

[Sue M.]

Glad the Spidey attraction at Univ. is safe, it's one of my favs still! Sorry, I just can't see Spidey walking around WDW. It just doesn't say Disney to me.