Classic Media Reasserts Rights to Lassie

NEW YORK, July 15: Classic
Media has reaffirmed its 100-percent copyright ownership of the Lassie brand, in the wake of a recent ruling in a
copyright case at the U.S. Court of Appeals.

On Friday, a Ninth Circuit
judge ruled that partial rights to the classic brand should be returned to Winifred
Knight Mewborn, the daughter of Eric Knight, who penned the original short
story Lassie Come Home in 1938.

Classic Media said in a
statement that it was "disappointed” by the decision. “The case centered
on a matter of non-exclusive copyright interest, however, we would note that
while this narrow point of law was before the Court, Classic Media’s trademarks
and its rights to create, distribute and merchandise the Lassie brand were never at issue.”

The statement continues:
“The parties have independently reached complete resolution of all matters in
the case, with Classic Media owning the exclusive 100-percent copyright in Lassie. Classic Media looks forward to continuing to
bring the adventures of the world’s most famous dog to audiences everywhere for
generations to come."

—By Mansha Daswani