Bagdasarian Productions

1961

1989-1995

2013-present

Bagdasarian Productions (also credited as Bagdasarian Company) is a production company which holds the rights to Alvin and the Chipmunks and related intellectual property assets. The company is currently owned and operated by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and Janice Karman. It is the successor to Bagdasarian Film Corporation, which was owned and founded by the franchise creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (also known as David Seville) in 1961. The company has co-produced many television series, specials, and films and initiated multiple lawsuits to protect the characters.

Television Series

• The Alvin Show (1961-1962) (co-production with Format Films)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983-1987) (co-production with Ruby-Spears Productions)
• The Chipmunks (1988-1989) (co-production with DIC Entertainment and Murakami-Wolf-Swenson)
• The Chipmunks Go to the Movies (1990) (co-production with DIC Entertainment)
• ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks (2015) (co-production with OuiDo! Productions)

Specials

• A Chipmunk Christmas (1981) (the first Chipmunks special)
• I Love the Chipmunks Valentine (1984) (co-production with Ruby-Spears Productions)
• A Chipmunk Reunion (1985) (co-production with Ruby-Spears Productions)
• Rockin' Through the Decades (1990) (co-production with Murakami-Wolf-Swenson)
• Trick or Treason (1994)
• A Chipmunk Celebration (1994) (co-production with The Krislin Company)
• The Easter Chipmunk (1995) (co-production with The Krislin Company)

Films

• The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) (co-production with The Samuel Goldwyn Company)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999) (co-production with Universal Animation Studios) 
• Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000) (co-production with Universal Animation Studios) 
• Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (2005) (co-production with Paramount Home Entertainment)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) (co-production with 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) (co-production with 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011) (co-production with 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015) (co-production with 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises)

Interviews

Star Movies VIP Access Alvin and the Chipmunks-Ross & Janice

Interview with Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman Jan 15, 2014

Alvin and the Chipmunks' Ross Bagdasarian & Janice Karman

Lawsuits

Main

Bagdasarian Productions has been involved in numerous lawsuits, a few are located below:

2000 - Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, LLC

Bagdasarian Productions sued for a payment of $100 million as a result of a breach-of-contract. It was alleged that Universal failed to "fulfill its promise to put The Chipmunks in motion pictures, videos and theme parks and on television." Additionally, Bagdasarian Productions claimed that the entertainment company never intended to honor the agreement to actively promote the characters as the company was secretly planning to dismantle its family entertainment and animation arms. Bagdasarian Productions won their suit and regained control of the Alvin and the Chipmunks characters in 2002.

2008, 2010 - Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. Capitol Records, INC (Case #BC384048 & #B217960)

Bagdasarian Productions sued Capitol Records for the use of 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, four years before Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. passed away, 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 reverted in 2010 when Bagdasarian Productions appealed. The appellate court held that the productions company has the exclusive right to publicly perform the recordings in question.

2011 - Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. Capitol Records, INC (Case #BC473804)

Bagdasarian Productions sued for a payment of four years (2005-2009) of royalists as a result of a breach-of-contract. According to the suit, Capitol Records sent royalists 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 meant to be paid to Bagdasarian Productions. The productions company claimed approximately $0.09 per song reproduced or distributed during the four years was due forth to them.

2010, 2012 - Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Bagdasarian Productions sued for payment associated with Janice Karman's contributions to the script of the second CGI/live-action film Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. Fox asked Karman to re-write the screenplay for the film after the company was not satisfied with their writer's initial draft. Much of the final draft comprised of her ideas and she believed she was entitled to more money than Fox offered her. She sought 50 percent of the movie's profits. Additionally, Bagdasarian Productions claimed a breach-of-contract as a result of Fox licensing the film to HBO, decreasing possible revenue, and underpaid royalties on the film's soundtrack, the Alvin and the Chipmunks' soundtrack, and other merchandise. All claims were ruled in favor of Fox.

Minor

2009 - Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. St. Clair Entertainment Group, Inc. et al

Bagdasarian Productions sued St. Clair Entertainment Group, a discount distributor of music and entertainment with operations primarily in Canada, for allegedly advertising and selling an infringing music album entitled A 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 authentic release. The District Court issued an injunction against any further production, distribution, marketing, and exploitation of products containing the Alvin and the Chipmunks logos.

2009 - Bagdasarian Productions, LLC v. Big Eye Records et al

Bagdasarian Productions sued Big 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 entitled Renditions of Alvin & the Chipmunks by Calvin & the Chipmunk Rock Stars online as a cheap knockoff of the Alvin 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.

2011 - Bagdasarian Productions LLC v. Jerry Naylor Company LLC et al

Bagdasarian Productions sued the 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 entitled A Tribute to Alvin and the Chipmonks by Alvin and the Chipmonks online as a cheap knockoff of the Alvin and the Chipmunks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. This album not only used the Alvin and the Chipmunks trademark but also contained twelve identical songs (two of which had two versions) from the original release. Bagdasarian Productions also sought damages of no less than $1 million. The parties in question reached a settlement before a ruling could be given.

External Links

• Official Main Website