vinnygambini
Why are strippers at the U.N. bad when they're great at strip clubs???
As the header implies, I would like to discuss the ownership of the Pokemon brand/franchise due to various misinformation spread in the media and various users. I hope the below will help explain the complicated relationship between Pokemon, Nintendo, Creatures Inc., Game Freak and The Pokemon Company. What a mouthful, ready? Let's catch all the answers together!
Firstly, what is Pokemon?
According to Wikipedia:
Wow that's alot of information to take, woosh, and yet right in the first sentence, I have already found a mistake! I have underlined the mistake already, above ↑.
Contrarily to what is mentioned, Pokemon is a media franchise jointly-owned by Creatures Inc, Nintendo, and Game Freak. I will develop that said ownership and its relationship shortly down the line in much more detail.
What? Nintendo don't solely own Pokemon? Pokemon third-party franchise confirmed
No, that's not how it works. The below image will better illustrate what I mean ↓.
On the 1st line, the following is mentioned - © 2015 Pokémon. © 1995–2015 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
What we see are the copyright owners of the Pokemon media franchise. Among its stakeholders are Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and Game Freak Inc.
On the 2nd line, the following is mentioned - Pokémon, Pokémon character names, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Wii, and Wiiware are trademarks of Nintendo.
What we see is the sole owner, Nintendo, of the Pokemon logo and the characters that inhabit the Pokemon world, such as the likes of Pikachu, Togepi, among many others.
In essence, the Pokemon franchise is owned by three separate entities: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc; however, Nintendo, in addition to having partial ownership, are trademark owners of the Pokemon logo, and Pokémon character names.
Ok. I'm still confused though as many people told me that The Pokemon Company controlled/owned the Pokemon franchise? (also mentioned on Wikipedia)
A common mistake sadly, but not a misplaced one, as they are somewhat correct.
Originally named "The Pokémon Center Company" and founded in 1998, The Pokémon Company was established through joint investment by the three businesses holding the copyright on Pokémon: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.
According to Pokemon.co.jp, The Pokemon Company's role is the following:
In summary, TPC is more like an agency/brand management which serves as a cost center to help get the entities involved money, and handle the Pokemon license. It acts in the best interest of all three shareholders: Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
Wow, that's really cool. So what is Nintendo's role in all of this?
Besides Nintendo developing several different Pokémon games in-house (Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Stadium 2), Nintendo are in constant communication with The Pokémon Company on production and distribution of each Pokémon game. Game Freak develops each title (mainline) while Nintendo handles the publishing aspect & marketing duties. Nintendo always has a production, coordination, localization, and support team separate from TPC and the other agencies on every title. Additionally, Nintendo has contributed much of the network programming, support programming and hardware peripheral programming (pokewalker, etc) throughout the series
The money generated through software sales pass through Nintendo's financials firstly, and are then re-distributed to The Pokemon Company as they are also co-publishers. Thus, the bulk of the money goes to Nintendo, and then a small percentage is also given to TPC.
What is Creatures Inc role then?
Creatures Inc. aided in the development of the original Pokemon games, and continue to do so to this day in some fashion (PokePark, Pokedex 3D). They could be seen as co-developers, they compliment Game Freak and assist in "producing" Pokemon. They also do 3D Character models but now, most of their attention is on the Pokemon Trading Game.
So in the end, what does it mean for the Pokemon franchise and Nintendo?
Pokemon forever remains an evergreen franchise that have captured the imagination of many, wallets included. In the end, although Nintendo holds several trademarks and publishing duties related to the franchise, its copyright is nonetheless jointly held by two others, Creatures Inc., and Game Freak. While it's clear that Nintendo has the upper-hand in this joint-partnership it nonetheless needs the other parties to be on board as they are the creative force behind Pokemon's cumulative ¥4 trillion enterprise.
But what does it really mean?
Nintendo is doomed
Well, there it is! I hope this helps
Important Information not mentioned:
- Nintendo holds a 32% interest in the Pokemon Company
- Nintendo has a stake in Creatures Inc.; however, Nintendo decided to not disclose the ownership ratio (Please understand)
Sources:
http://www.pokemon.com/us/legal/
http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/business/
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201306/11034770.html
Nintendo IR
Firstly, what is Pokemon?
According to Wikipedia:
Pokémon (ポケモン] is a media franchise owned by The Pokémon Company, and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995. It is centered on fictional creatures called "Pokémon", which humans capture and train to fight each other for sport.
Wow that's alot of information to take, woosh, and yet right in the first sentence, I have already found a mistake! I have underlined the mistake already, above ↑.
Contrarily to what is mentioned, Pokemon is a media franchise jointly-owned by Creatures Inc, Nintendo, and Game Freak. I will develop that said ownership and its relationship shortly down the line in much more detail.
What? Nintendo don't solely own Pokemon? Pokemon third-party franchise confirmed
No, that's not how it works. The below image will better illustrate what I mean ↓.
On the 1st line, the following is mentioned - © 2015 Pokémon. © 1995–2015 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.
What we see are the copyright owners of the Pokemon media franchise. Among its stakeholders are Nintendo, Creatures Inc., and Game Freak Inc.
On the 2nd line, the following is mentioned - Pokémon, Pokémon character names, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Wii, and Wiiware are trademarks of Nintendo.
What we see is the sole owner, Nintendo, of the Pokemon logo and the characters that inhabit the Pokemon world, such as the likes of Pikachu, Togepi, among many others.
In essence, the Pokemon franchise is owned by three separate entities: Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc; however, Nintendo, in addition to having partial ownership, are trademark owners of the Pokemon logo, and Pokémon character names.
Ok. I'm still confused though as many people told me that The Pokemon Company controlled/owned the Pokemon franchise? (also mentioned on Wikipedia)
A common mistake sadly, but not a misplaced one, as they are somewhat correct.
Originally named "The Pokémon Center Company" and founded in 1998, The Pokémon Company was established through joint investment by the three businesses holding the copyright on Pokémon: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Creatures Inc., and GAME FREAK inc.
According to Pokemon.co.jp, The Pokemon Company's role is the following:
We're the Producers of Pokémon. We manage* the development of new products that keep Pokémon fresh, fun, and exciting as we move forward. We're dedicated to value and the creation of environments where our work can be enjoyed by all.
* Video Game Production & Development, Trading Card Game Business Planning & Promotion, Licensing & Quality Control, Pokemon Center Business Management, Event Planning & Management, International Business, and Marketing & Web Promotion
In summary, TPC is more like an agency/brand management which serves as a cost center to help get the entities involved money, and handle the Pokemon license. It acts in the best interest of all three shareholders: Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
Wow, that's really cool. So what is Nintendo's role in all of this?
Besides Nintendo developing several different Pokémon games in-house (Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Stadium 2), Nintendo are in constant communication with The Pokémon Company on production and distribution of each Pokémon game. Game Freak develops each title (mainline) while Nintendo handles the publishing aspect & marketing duties. Nintendo always has a production, coordination, localization, and support team separate from TPC and the other agencies on every title. Additionally, Nintendo has contributed much of the network programming, support programming and hardware peripheral programming (pokewalker, etc) throughout the series
The money generated through software sales pass through Nintendo's financials firstly, and are then re-distributed to The Pokemon Company as they are also co-publishers. Thus, the bulk of the money goes to Nintendo, and then a small percentage is also given to TPC.
What is Creatures Inc role then?
Creatures Inc. aided in the development of the original Pokemon games, and continue to do so to this day in some fashion (PokePark, Pokedex 3D). They could be seen as co-developers, they compliment Game Freak and assist in "producing" Pokemon. They also do 3D Character models but now, most of their attention is on the Pokemon Trading Game.
So in the end, what does it mean for the Pokemon franchise and Nintendo?
Pokemon forever remains an evergreen franchise that have captured the imagination of many, wallets included. In the end, although Nintendo holds several trademarks and publishing duties related to the franchise, its copyright is nonetheless jointly held by two others, Creatures Inc., and Game Freak. While it's clear that Nintendo has the upper-hand in this joint-partnership it nonetheless needs the other parties to be on board as they are the creative force behind Pokemon's cumulative ¥4 trillion enterprise.
But what does it really mean?
Nintendo is doomed
Well, there it is! I hope this helps
Important Information not mentioned:
- Nintendo holds a 32% interest in the Pokemon Company
- Nintendo has a stake in Creatures Inc.; however, Nintendo decided to not disclose the ownership ratio (Please understand)
Sources:
http://www.pokemon.com/us/legal/
http://www.pokemon.co.jp/corporate/en/business/
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201306/11034770.html
Nintendo IR