Will Universal Keep Using The Simpsons Now That Disney Owns The IP?

[RollerCoaster]

BTW, to answer the OP. Do we know for a fact its a contract between Uni-Fox and not a contact between Uni-Matt Groening directly. My understanding, and I could be wrong, is that Uni went directly to Groening because Fox initially didn't want to create a Simpson ride/area in Universal Parks.

Matt Groening is the creator. 20th Century Fox owns the franchise and creative.

The agreement to use the IP is between Universal and 20th Century Fox. These contracts allowing the use of the IP are good for Disney, not bad, and well accounted for when considering the acquisition. There will be no change to The Simpsons at the Universal theme parks for the foreseeable future. I suspect that when the contract is up Universal may be well ready to retire The Simpsons IP from their parks. While wildly popular the type of following and relevance of the creative is different when compared to Harry Potter and StarWars. StarWars and Harry Potter fans can easily introduce the stories to their children, The Simpsons however is more relevant to a specific generation that grew up when the show is on. I'm still waiting for one of my friends to tell me that their kids are now watching The Simpsons.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Remember when The Simpsons was good?

 

[Disney Irish]

Matt Groening is the creator. 20th Century Fox owns the franchise and creative.

The agreement to use the IP is between Universal and 20th Century Fox. These contracts allowing the use of the IP are good for Disney, not bad, and well accounted for when considering the acquisition. There will be no change to The Simpsons at the Universal theme parks for the foreseeable future. I suspect that when the contract is up Universal may be well ready to retire The Simpsons IP from their parks. While wildly popular the type of following and relevance of the creative is different when compared to Harry Potter and StarWars. StarWars and Harry Potter fans can easily introduce the stories to their children, The Simpsons however is more relevant to a specific generation that grew up when the show is on. I'm still waiting for one of my friends to tell me that their kids are now watching The Simpsons.

Except Fox isn't the sole production company of The Simpsons. There are two other companies involved, Groening's company The Curiosity Company, and James Brooks' company Gracie Films, both of which have a stake in The Simpsons. So while Fox (now Disney) is the sole distribution company, it stands to reason that all three would be part of the contract when it comes to producing a theme park attraction. Instead of Fox just licensing The Simpsons to Universal and they creating it themselves. Its the reason why Groening and Brooks were directly involved in the creation of the attraction and land.

So while I agree with you that nothing will happen for a long while, but its likely not as cut and dry as you make it seem.

 

[JerichoJ]

Except Fox isn't the sole production company of The Simpsons. There are two other companies involved, Groening's company The Curiosity Company, and James Brooks' company Gracie Films

While you are right in stating that there are other production companies involved, the other two companies are in charge of the creative content (Fox had to approve this content though), while the agreement had Fox in charge of the licensing and merchandise. (have you ever seen official Simpson’s Merch with “gracie films” instead of “Fox” stamped all over it?) this licensing and Merch now has transferred to Disney through the Fox deal. Not with a deal between Gracie the curiosity company. This now also mean that Gracie and curiosity have to have Disney approval on creative before creating any new episodes.

while you are also right that Matt and co were involved in the creation of the attraction, that is because they are the creative team. Fox doesn’t write the content nor do they voice it or animate it. That’s the job of Matt and his creative team. Fox has final say on this content though.

 

[Disney Irish]

While you are right in stating that there are other production companies involved, the other two companies are in charge of the creative content (Fox had to approve this content though), while the agreement had Fox in charge of the licensing and merchandise. (have you ever seen official Simpson’s Merch with “gracie films” instead of “Fox” stamped all over it?) this licensing and Merch now has transferred to Disney through the Fox deal. Not with a deal between Gracie the curiosity company. This now also mean that Gracie and curiosity have to have Disney approval on creative before creating any new episodes.

while you are also right that Matt and co were involved in the creation of the attraction, that is because they are the creative team. Fox doesn’t write the content nor do they voice it or animate it. That’s the job of Matt and his creative team. Fox has final say on this content though.

My point from that post over a year ago was that its not just as simple as a deal between Disney/Fox and Comcast/Universal. There is the whole creative side which without it would mean there is no Simpsons Ride or Springfield Land. So Matt and James would both be part of the contract, because both still have some creative control over the IP. Its complicated and not very simple.

And to answer your question, do I see Gracie Films or Curiosity stamped all over Simpson's merch, no. But what I do see Matt Groening's name all over it. Which means he has to sign-off on that too.

So again there is no deal, contract, or anything without Matt and James being involved.

 

[JerichoJ]

My point from that post over a year ago was that its not just as simple as a deal between Disney/Fox and Comcast/Universal. There is the whole creative side which without it would mean there is no Simpsons Ride or Springfield Land. So Matt and James would both be part of the contract, because both still have some creative control over the IP. Its complicated and not very simple.

And to answer your question, do I see Gracie Films or Curiosity stamped all over Simpson's merch, no. But what I do see Matt Groening's name all over it. Which means he has to sign-off on that too.

So again there is no deal, contract, or anything without Matt and James being involved.

“how do we know it wasn’t a deal between uni-Matt instead of uni and Fox”

We know this because Fox was in charge of licensing and there is no way that Matt would have had a deal with Universal without fox’s approval. Matt can not go above fox’s head in this.

 

[JerichoJ]

“how do we know it wasn’t a deal between uni-Matt instead of uni and Fox”

We know this because Fox was in charge of licensing and there is no way that Matt would have had a deal with Universal without fox’s approval. Matt can not go above fox’s head in this.

You

My point from that post over a year ago was that its not just as simple as a deal between Disney/Fox and Comcast/Universal. There is the whole creative side which without it would mean there is no Simpsons Ride or Springfield Land. So Matt and James would both be part of the contract, because both still have some creative control over the IP. Its complicated and not very simple.

And to answer your question, do I see Gracie Films or Curiosity stamped all over Simpson's merch, no. But what I do see Matt Groening's name all over it. Which means he has to sign-off on that too.

So again there is no deal, contract, or anything without Matt and James being involved.

So at the end of the day your original statement is incorrect. Matt can’t do a side deal with Universal.

 

[Disney Irish]

You


So at the end of the day your original statement is incorrect. Matt can’t do a side deal with Universal.

Yes I'll fully take responsibility that original post was incorrect in my statement. That is where I revised my point in the second post.

My point yet again is that there is a mulit-way deal here, its not just between Disney/Fox and Comcast/Universal. There are other parties involved, which again is my point in my second post and where I revised my original statement.

Also Fox by all reports wasn't involved at all in the theme park project, they left it up to Matt and his team and Universal. So basically they just signed off on it, nothing more.

Honestly not sure why this is being brought up a year later. Its not there is anything change, nothing about Disney wanting to break the contract, nothing about Disney wanting to put the Simpsons in Disney Parks. Nothing about the original deal being changed. So at this point this whole conversation or you trying to interject yourself into a year old post is all moot. Additionally it appears all you've done is to create an account to revive to this very thread, which is strange.

 

[socalifornian]

While you are right in stating that there are other production companies involved, the other two companies are in charge of the creative content (Fox had to approve this content though), while the agreement had Fox in charge of the licensing and merchandise. (have you ever seen official Simpson’s Merch with “gracie films” instead of “Fox” stamped all over it?) this licensing and Merch now has transferred to Disney through the Fox deal. Not with a deal between Gracie the curiosity company. This now also mean that Gracie and curiosity have to have Disney approval on creative before creating any new episodes.

while you are also right that Matt and co were involved in the creation of the attraction, that is because they are the creative team. Fox doesn’t write the content nor do they voice it or animate it. That’s the job of Matt and his creative team. Fox has final say on this content though.

Hello