Amazon acquired MGM and the Bond franchise for $8.5 billion, seeking to control the lucrative intellectual property of the iconic spy. As the 2035 public domain deadline approaches, original Bond literary works will allow competitors to create their own interpretations, prompting a potential surge in Bond-related content across film and TV. This scenario highlights broader trends in Hollywood as various beloved characters, including Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse, face similar copyright expirations, leading to a potential 'rights arms race' among studios and creators for adaptations.
Under UK and European law, copyright to literary creations expires 70 years after the author's death, raising the prospect of Creative Commons versions of iconic characters like James Bond, Winnie the Pooh, and Mickey Mouse, soon to be available for all.
Amazon's acquisition of MGM for $8.5 billion and a subsequent payment of $1 billion for full control of Bond show the lengths companies will go to protect and capitalize on their intellectual properties amidst changing copyright laws.
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