Christmas are approaching and you can feel it in the air… We shall give you a few cool presents next week, so stay tuned. In other news, the Trainer Database is out of the beta phase, all filters are now functional.
We also some interesting facts about 4Kids Entertainment. Read the complete Press Release (PDF).
NEW YORK (December 23, 2005) – 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) and Pokémon USA, Inc.,
announced today that they have agreed not to renew the Pokémon representation agreement set to
expire on December 31, 2005. Beginning in 2006, Pokémon USA, Inc.’s in-house licensing group will
handle all Pokémon licensing outside of Asia.“We felt it was in the best interest of the Pokémon property for Pokémon USA, Inc., to assume all aspects
of licensing,” said Akira Chiba, President of Pokémon USA, Inc. “This was a brand management decision.
We would like to thank 4Kids for all of its great work over the last eight years in helping to establish
Pokémon as one of the leading children’s brands in the world.”“4Kids has had a successful eight-year exclusive relationship with the Pokémon property that will be
expiring at year end,” said Alfred R. Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. “Over the next
month, 4Kids will assist Pokémon USA, Inc., in its transition to in-house representation. We wish
Pokémon USA much success going forward.”Under the terms of the expiring Pokémon USA, Inc. – 4Kids representation agreement, 4Kids will continue
to receive commissions for the next several years on payments made under existing Pokémon license
agreements whose term expires after December 31, 2005. It is expected that commissions earned by
4Kids from the Pokémon property will decline over the course of the next several years. 4Kids will also
continue next year to produce the current eighth season of Pokémon television episodes.