BBC faces legal action on Noddy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The BBC faces legal action following claims that it has been substantially flouting its rights to Noddy, Enid Blyton's much-loved children's character.
The discovery has come to light following the pounds 13m sale of Darrell Waters - the family company which managed the copyrights to Blyton's work - to the London entertainment complex the Trocadero in January. Lawyers combing through 45 years of licences have been astonished to find that the BBC had apparently been hugely exceeding its rights to Noddy, Blyton's most famous character.
They claim that not only did it pay a fraction of the real value for the first two Noddy series, but the corporation made the third without the right to do so. They also claim that the BBC has published dozens of Noddy spin-offs in the form of dolls and picture books despite the fact it only has rights to exploit the two Noddy series, not Noddy in general.
Darrell Waters has now been renamed the Enid Blyton Company by the Trocadero, which is "renegotiating" the BBC contracts and demanding "substantial" retrospective payments. Last year BBC Enterprises - now BBC Worldwide - is understood to have made about pounds 14m from Noddy, including foreign sales of the series, while Darrell Waters made pounds 150,000.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments