Chipmunks have feelings, too. Especially when the issue involves money. Daily Variety reports today that Bagdasarian Productions — rights holders to Alvin and the Chipmunks and the surviving family of the singing rodents’ creator, Ross Bagdasarian — filed a $100 million lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Universal Studios.
The B family is charging that the studio neglected to actively license Chipmunks products and its brand, resulting in a drop of annual revenue from about $4 million to the current $70,000.
The licensing deal between the Bagdasarian family and Universal began in 1996. In exchange for a 35 percent share of its business, Bagdasarian Productions received $12.5 million and an exclusive licensing agreement wherein the Chipmunks brand name was to become the center of the studio’s animated programming and family entertainment division.
The Chipmunks were created by the late Bagdasarian in 1958.
