Forum - View topicNEWS: Strife at IC Entertainment
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Emerje
 Posts: 7425 Location: Maine |
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I don't believe this is the case for Master Licenses though. For example Irwin for many years had the master toy license in the US for much of it's properties. When they went backrupt they sold several of them, including the Dragonball licenses (DB/DBZ/DBGT) and Yu Yu Hakusho to Jakks Pacific along with their half of IF Labs (a partnership between Irwin and Funimation). However, I really doubt IC has any master licenses so their projects are more likely to expire or default than be sold off. The licensers could always buy them back if they feel they're not being used or see a bankruptcy as a threat to their titles getting out. Emerje |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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It depends on what IC does. If IC files a chapter 11 (bankruptcy), then all the creditors (including employees owed backwages) file a claim on what they're owed. And the court divies up the assets, including the license. Of course, after the CPAs and attorneys get their cut (they are first in line to be paid from company assests) there's not much left. usually you're looking at 10 cents on the dollar. If IC goes the reorganization route instead of bankruptcy, they can try to renegotiate the debts, and see if the creditors will settle for less than 100% owed. and licenses would be kept by the company (because it wouldn't be of much value to creditors). |
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Amused Observer
Posts: 164 |
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I thought the questions asked were fairly neutral, and allowed the interviewees to take the questions as far as they wished to.
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Glenn Sempai
 Posts: 23 Location: Hollywood Ca. |
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First of all, I'm not going to get too deep into the comic book stuff. I read them, not make them. I have ran a business for about 4 Years now through some pretty ruff times. In all my dealings with my co-animators (that about makes up the whole company at D Glenn), I have learned the golden rules.
Golden Rule #1: Be honest to the staff. Golden Rule #2? Never forget Golden Rule #1. I also have had times that people had to work for next to free. When? When I had to also! There was a point that we worked just to have something that we could stick in or resumes. Fortunately, we managed to pick things up and the three of us that have stuck it out are doing much better. But none of us are rich by any stretch of the imagination or have much fame beyond the local niches. I can say this. We have had to dream up some creative ways to raise revenue. Being one of the principal CG model makers for the U.S. ARMY was not on our long-term game plan, but we have learned loads from the experience and I hope that we can add that experience to how we do our Animation (More blood and gore, Yey). Anyway, I rant and Rave! By the way, All the staff gets paid on time at my shop. I have a medical and 401K. We are ALL collage professionals, and get paid (I think) above scale. We are a non-union shop and never plan to be. This has been the status-quo since June 2002. David Glenn D Glenn Entertainment LLC. |
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f9h600
Posts: 2 |
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I've known just about all the employees of IC for a long time now, and from what they all tell me, no employee did anything to cause damage to any others. These actions were all taken and executed (and sometimes due to the neglect thereof) of the owners. Not to mention the fact that when you're an owner, there is NOTHING you don't and can't get access to. It's just a fact. I can't hide anything from my boss at work cept maybe my stash of m&ms, if he really wants to know something, he can just bust in, snatch up any of the books and that's that. So this whole "hide hide woe is us thing" is just the same old stuff ICs spat out since several years back. I find it interesting that in their recorded years of operation, situations like this have arisen again and again, and everytime it's "not they're fault" That sounds fishy to me. And for Central City, Saya's contact information has been availalble publicly on the website for almost a year if not longer. The fact that they can't find information located on their own website and would rather try to cast blame aimlessly says a lot for any claims they may be trying to make....I myself was able to find all her contact info just by taking 10 seconds to use Google, which was the same with all those amerimanga artists they've been insisting we're missing in action. And from what I heard from some of the artists, they've contacted IC several times and have received no responses. I've heard about problems like these with IC for years, this is nothing new, just this time, it looks like people got fed up and decided not to take it anymore. Good on them, nobody should have to go through all that crap.
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Coral Skipper
Posts: 223 |
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This is a shame. Has anyone e-mailed Piro this article yet? Looks like its going to force him to explain things to avoid the speculation.
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Iron Chef
 Posts: 487 Location: Seattle, WA |
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Yeah, this totally doesn't surprise me. Obviously everyone has stated the Megatokyo stuff, but just trying to get my damn AmeriManga subscription was like pulling teeth. It took five months of constant phone calls and emails before they sent me five of my issues. I've yet to see a sixth, and I don't really care anymore. Freakin' shysters.
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takami826
 Posts: 28 Location: Cleveland, OH |
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Not sure what's up with that whole 'we can't find anyone' deal. I see that on their forum and I refuse to comment on it. If I can find just about every AM creator with a quick search on google... Gee it's real hard to go to the creator's website and contact them that way, too. Doesn't say much to me about their willingness to do anything but whine.
Personally, I got fed up not getting a reply and honestly don't care anymore. They'll get what they deserve. |
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cookie
Former ANN Editor in Chief
 Posts: 2460 Location: Do not contact me for support. |
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Does it matter whether Fred jumped ship with IC because of this sort of thing or not? It seems to me that while this may or may not be related, it certainly isn't going to make fans unhappy in the long run. I don't think Piro needs to explain anything more than what he's already said, and I don't think it would really change things in the long run regardless. |
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Cassandra
 Posts: 1356 Location: Birdsboro, PA |
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I don't know if MT leaving had anything to do with any of it. From what I gather, there have been problems long before MT signed up with Ironcat.
However, I think it would be nice for Ironcat to formulate some sort of response. Right now all they have on their website is that they won't be commenting on it. It just kinda makes them look bad. |
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wcy2003
 Posts: 52 Location: Richmond |
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The main reason they are doing this is because they believe they are projecting an image of normalcy. Sort of like how the information minister of Iraq kept saying the americans weren't anywhere near baghdad yet you could see the smoke where fire fights were taking place. They think they can deal with the issue by not dealing with, the tell tale sign of bad management, shotty PR, and unknowledgable staff in the form of press. Sorry I'm a journalism major and this is textbook what not to do to any business, especially one so close to its customers. It can't be an unpersonal conglomerate, which is what it is trying to do now, too much of the companys status is public record. Either way, they are setting themselves up for a hostile take over. Their assets are spilling away, pay freezes, the works. I have this feeling mangament is going to go for a deal and try and liquidate the assets of the company and lay off the works while they get out thick as theives with their pockets lined. Would be neat though, to buy a company that has ran itself into teh ground and turn it around into a really great company. *Sigh* too bad I don't have the capital.
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Ranmah
 Posts: 294 Location: Stomp'n on Tokyo Tower |
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I have heard from my contacts at Otakon that the IC situation was long over due. Speaking as an artist and small business owner I have my fair share of shaddy deals.
I agree that the owner in question should have been more straight forward with the employees. This is something that should not be ignore and there are probably consequences. In terms of protection of the employees I think it would be wise for them collect their hourly documents in case they are to get a refund. I don't think I would do business with a company that dosen't treat its employees with respect. There is nothing wrong with unions. I belong to the UAW and I was a past member of the Graphic Artists Guild and ASIFA (International Animators Assocation). It is good to have something to fall back on. This is something the industry needs to reflect. Ranmah |
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SamGoody0491
Posts: 37 |
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whoa...
didn’t think this topic would clock so many messages. A few things I will say on this topic. 1- studio ironcat will not go bankrupt.... Although from many of you pondering the situation.. Not happening. 2- reason for name change... the reason the name had changed was because... the office assistant wanted to change the image, to a more "well-rounded family" name, after the mass quitting they decided to erase the other name and keep ironcat. 3- reason for megatokyo leaving. Nothing to do with situation happening now. 4- reason for employees not getting paid. Yes sad, and also not very nice, and yes they should complain, maybe in not such a fashion...but whatever way they wished to rebel is fine. the company is not withholding payment, in fact from what i heard from the panels have been paying in small amounts. and the company does not blame them for leaving, also stated that they wish them luck with future endeavors. IronCat holds no grudge to them, even after the article. (i called to see if there was anyway i could help, when i saw the interview) 5- they have a good new staff, (i met them myself at a con), they have investors (heard in panel), new titles (di gi charat, nanaka 6/17, etc) reprints on old titles (yui, etc), Amerimanga will be re-done with some old artists and some new, in a more cost effective way, that makes it cheaper for customers, new look to the website. All this, from what was in a panel and from Ironcat themselves, if some bothered to listen. If you read they're news articles on their site they've been very up-front with their situation, keeping it clean and nice. Not once did I hear anything bad about what happened. All I heard was "Management was to blame, I am to blame for not checking up on what was going on. Not enough checks and balances. I will not speak of old issues, only future projects." (A side note, the three interviewed were not part of the management team) I guess you chose to hear what you want to hear. But I know many people who still support IronCat 100%. I for one, I will continue to buy their product. Especially now that their titles are increasing, and not being delayed. Just because half the story is being told doesn’t mean its right. And beings that i know the company and have followed the company for many years now, with cons and stuff, i don’t claim to know everything and don’t claim to be right. But an interview like that was made to injure credibility, and integrity, so of course some truths are stretched. They were claimed wrongdoing, not saying they're wrong in that respect, they have every right to do so. And I too would be angry at not getting paid. Just saying, I don’t know about you but when you're doing something to damage someone, you try to be as vile, as dirt digging, as possible. So there may very well be some truths in the article. But like an archaeologist you have to dig around in the mud before you find any scientific truths. Just a thought. |
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
 Posts: 7912 Location: Anime News Network Technodrome |
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The above post is the usual pabulum issued by a company that has A) done something very wrong, B) kinda admitted to it in a mealy-mouthed, noncommittal fashion and C) continue to refuse to explain, apologize or even try to fix the problems they've caused. Dig "through the mud" all you want. IC needs to answer these claims swiftly instead of trying to bury it in the past. Their consumers and their employees have a right to know. Corporations are not individuals, they are subject to public scrutiny. Buying the company line - in the face of such damning testimony from people clearly wronged by their employer - is keeping the blindfold on and allowing middle-mind quasi-politics to take over. IC is responsible for what they've done and now they need to take the fall for it, period. They aren't doing that. This is a problem.
-Z |
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SamGoody0491
Posts: 37 |
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I dont speak for the company. im just a fan. A fan of anime, and a fan of ironcat.
And because I dont work for the company, you may be right on your alphabetical choices. Every company and person(s) have certain things they hide, in order not to be pre-judged. All I'm sayin is that, prolly in the long run its just a small set back for them. I'm not going to hide my views, I hope and know they will get through this. They were one the first companies to bring graphic novels from japan in english. They were definately the first to decide to use the original japanese right to left formats. They have obscure titles, but they're good ones. You're right, they have to atone for the mishaps, but from what i saw they're doing just that. |
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