Danjaq, LLC is the holding company responsible for the copyright and trademarks to the characters, elements, and other material related to James Bond on screen. It is currently owned and managed by the family of Albert R. Broccoli, the co-initiator of the popular film franchise. Eon Productions, the production company responsible for producing the James Bond films, is a subsidiary of Danjaq.
History
Founding
Danjaq S.A. was founded by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman after the release of the first James Bond filmDr. No, in 1962, to ensure all future films in the series. The new company was to be called Danjaq, a combination of Broccoli and Saltzman's respective wives' names. The company was originally domiciled in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, hence the appearance of "S.A." letters in first legal name of company. In 1962, Danjaq began its association with United Artists.
Ownership
Due to a series of failed business interests, Harry Saltzman's personal financial difficulties forced him to sell his 50% share of Danjaq to United Artists in 1975. In 1986, Albert and Dana Broccoli acquired United Artists' 50% stake in the company and so assumed complete control of Danjaq. John Cork claims that in exchange for the sale, MGM/UA received an exclusive distribution deal with Danjaq that is far more lucrative than when the shares were originally owned by Broccoli and Saltzman. Danjaq's legal domicile was changed from Switzerland to Delaware in October 1992. Since then, its legal name was Danjaq, Inc. The company was converted to limited liability company in January 1997. Following the death of Albert Broccoli in 1996 and Dana Broccoli in 2004 control of Danjaq was passed to Michael G. Wilson.
Copyright status
Although the trademarks for material related to the Bond films are held by Danjaq, the copyrights to the first 20 film properties are co-owned by Danjaq LLC and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. The copyrights to Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre, are shared between Danjaq LLC, MGM, and Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. The copyrights to No Time to Die, is shared between Danjaq LLC, MGM, and Universal Studios.
Films made outside the control of Danjaq
Two Bond films have been made outside the control of Danjaq, the first was the 1967 filmCasino Royale, with David Niven as Bond; the second was the 1983 filmNever Say Never Again, a remake of Thunderball. Never Say Never Again was the result of a legal dispute involving Kevin McClory, one of the credited co-writers of the story used for the novelThunderball, who was awarded the film rights to the novel in a 1963 settlement with Ian Fleming.
Litigation
Danjaq LLC v. James Bond Ltd
On 13 July 2009 Danjaq applied under s.69 of the Companies Act 2006 for a change of name of James Bond Ltd, which had been registered since 12 June 2009. James Bond Ltd was ordered by the adjudicator at the Company Names Tribunal to change its name and to not register another company with an offending name. The respondent was also ordered to contribute toward Danjaq's costs.
