Royalties and POPs

[lordofanime]

I don't know if Funko divulges this information, but I would really be interested in knowing how and if they deal with royalties. Like for example, in the new Batman V Superman POPs, do the actors get any money from their merchandise?

You'd think no, because they're essentially just using their costumes, right? Most Funko faces look the same.

[Mr Yac]

You'd think no, because they're essentially just using their costumes, right? Most Funko faces look the same.

I would agree with you because let's face it, pops don't look like people. but then you hear about stuff like Seinfeld not happening because Jerry won't sign off on the likeness which is just so odd to me, so it would seem that yes the actors do get a cut and some level of approval.

[treswright]

I don't know if Funko divulges this information, but I would really be interested in knowing how and if they deal with royalties. Like for example, in the new Batman V Superman POPs, do the actors get any money from their merchandise?

You'd think no, because they're essentially just using their costumes, right? Most Funko faces look the same.

It's more than just costumes, they're also using names and logos that are copyrighted. So yes, they do have to obtain licensing permission and yes, they do pay for it. Probably not "royalties" as a royalty would mean they would pay a certain amount per Pop made, but rather they probably pay a flat licensing fee. Funko has talked about licensing issues before, sometimes when asked if they are going to make Pops of "xyz" they respond back that they would like to but were unable to obtain licensing. A licensing issue is also the reason all Star Wars Pops are bobble-heads as the "action figure" license belongs to another company.

As for whether the actor gets any kind of payment, this is something I've wondered about too. For example, Jason Momoa plays Aquaman in the upcoming BvS movie. The characters in the movie are DC Comics designs. The movie is being distributed by Warner Brothers. Does Funko have to obtain licensing from all 3 parties? My guess is no, the actor and DC Comics probably have licensing agreements with Warner Brothers for use of their images, so I imagine Funko obtains licensing from Warner Brothers alone. But it's just a guess

[CampBhoy67]

An actor can get in on their contract that they get X% of the money received in merchandise featuring their character, similarly they can request X% of the gross or net profits of the movie itself, like Jack Nicholson did with Batman 89. But Momoa etc can't reject having their likeness of something, as that would have been part of their contract to begin with and why all the actors do full body scans for figures. Affleck would have been smart to get a Merch clause in his contract as Batman is DC's best selling superhero

[r2d2]

You'd think no, because they're essentially just using their costumes, right? Most Funko faces look the same.

I would agree with you because let's face it, pops don't look like people. but then you hear about stuff like Seinfeld not happening because Jerry won't sign off on the likeness which is just so odd to me, so it would seem that yes the actors do get a cut and some level of approval.

In the case of Seinfeld it is not because Jerry wants a cut for his likeness. Jerry is the holder of the license as one of the creators. Simply just doesn't want to have toys made, like James Bond and other licenses Funko has not been able to obtain.

[bo150000]

It still amazes me how many licenses they are able to obtain. I really can't think of another product that has so many licenses.

[Indy Viper]

You'd think no, because they're essentially just using their costumes, right? Most Funko faces look the same.

I would agree with you because let's face it, pops don't look like people. but then you hear about stuff like Seinfeld not happening because Jerry won't sign off on the likeness which is just so odd to me, so it would seem that yes the actors do get a cut and some level of approval.

In the case of Seinfeld it is not because Jerry wants a cut for his likeness. Jerry is the holder of the license as one of the creators. Simply just doesn't want to have toys made, like James Bond and other licenses Funko has not been able to obtain.

Well, that can't be true- they already made Vinyl Idolz of Kramer, Newman, and the Soup Nazi, so Funko Seinfeld (the show, not the person) figures already exist.