Report: Furby maker pays up for toy that looks like a movie Gremlin 11.59 p.m. ET (0459 GMT) December 23, 1998 LOS ANGELES — Furby is a holiday hit, but the interactive toy's similarity to a movie Gremlin has reportedly led its maker to pay a hefty settlement.
The entertainment industry newspaper Daily Variety on Wednesday reported that Furby manufacturer Hasbro Inc. paid a large, undisclosed amount to Warner Bros., the studio that made "Gremlins'' and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch.'' The films featured a good-tempered and cuddly Gremlin called Gizmo.
Daily Variety also said Furbys will be redesigned as part of the agreement.
But Warner Bros. spokesperson Barbara Brogliatti said Wednesday there was no pending litigation against Hasbro.
She said that reports of a seven-figure settlement were unwarranted.
"You have to have a lawsuit to have a settlement,'' Brogliatti said. "We have a long-standing relationship with Hasbro. It's all very friendly and amicable.''
Brogliatti would not confirm if discussions were ongoing about Furby's similarities to Gizmo.
However, she said the likeness between the two furry dolls is no secret.
"We all noticed a resemblance -- a very distinct resemblance between our character from 'Gremlins' and the Furby,'' she said.
A call to Hasbro was not immediately returned. A recording at Hasbro's Pawtucket, R.I., headquarters said the office was closed for the holidays.
Hasbro Inc.'s Tiger Electronics makes the talking, animated "pet,'' which has been selling out at stores nationwide. The toy initially speaks an imaginary language and learns English upon repeated use by its owner.
Possible Furby Flap Settled - (LOS ANGELES) -- ``Daily Variety'' is reporting a settlement between Warner Brothers and the makers of this year's hottest toy... the Furby. Warner's was apparently upset because of the doll's likeness to ``Gremlins...'' a movie Warner's produced. Under the reported agreement... toy- maker Hasbro will pay an undisclosed fine and also redesign the dolls. A recording at the Hasbro offices in, Pawtucket, Rhode Island says the company is closed for the holiday.
Thursday December 24, 12:57 am Eastern Time
Paper: Furby Maker Settles Toy Flap
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Furby is a holiday hit, but the interactive toy's similarity to a movie Gremlin has reportedly led its maker to pay a hefty settlement.
The entertainment industry newspaper Daily Variety on Wednesday reported that Furby manufacturer Hasbro Inc. paid a large, undisclosed amount to Warner Bros., the studio that made ``Gremlins'' and ``Gremlins 2: The New Batch.'' The films featured a good-tempered and cuddly Gremlin called Gizmo.
Daily Variety also said Furbys will be redesigned as part of the agreement.
But Warner Bros. spokesperson Barbara Brogliatti said Wednesday there was no pending litigation against Hasbro.
She said that reports of a seven-figure settlement were unwarranted.
``You have to have a lawsuit to have a settlement,'' Brogliatti said. ``We have a long-standing relationship with Hasbro. It's all very friendly and amicable.''
Brogliatti would not confirm if discussions were ongoing about Furby's similarities to Gizmo.
However, she said the likeness between the two furry dolls is no secret.
``We all noticed a resemblance -- a very distinct resemblance between our character from 'Gremlins' and the Furby,'' she said.
A call to Hasbro was not immediately returned. A recording at Hasbro's Pawtucket, R.I., headquarters said the office was closed for the holidays.
Hasbro Inc.'s Tiger Electronics makes the talking, animated ``pet,'' which has been selling out at stores nationwide. The toy initially speaks an imaginary language and learns English upon repeated use by its owner.
Wednesday December 23 8:18 AM ET
Furby flies as lawsuit settled
By Richard Morgan
NEW YORK (Variety) - Is the Gremlin-like Furby too, well, Gremlin-like?
The answer's a definite maybe, given the undisclosed seven-figure sum that toymaker Hasbro has paid Warner Bros., the studio behind ``Gremlins'' and ``Gremlins 2: The New Batch.''
The talking plush doll that has become this holiday season's runaway hit will reportedly get a redesign as part of the same agreement -- which promises to turn the already-hard-to-find toy from Hasbro's Tiger Electronics division into an instant collectible.
Since October, Tiger has produced 2 million units of the highly interactive 6-1/2-inch tall character, which not only belches and passes gas but ``learns'' as it matures, going from ``Furbish'' nonsense to such English phrases as ``big light'' when placed in the sun and ``big noise'' when subjected to traffic.
When asked about the settlement Tuesday, a Warner Bros. spokeswoman would not comment, but did confirm that the studio was ``not currently in litigation'' with Hasbro. Hasbro spokesman Wayne Charness did not return Daily Variety's calls for comment.
Consumers and reporters have long noted Furby's resemblance to Gizmo, the lovable star of the 1984 hit ``Gremlins.'' The $148 million U.S. grosser led to a 1990 sequel, ``Gremlins 2: The New Batch,'' which ended up with $41 million domestically. Both were directed by Joe Dante.
A toy analyst, who asked not to be identified, believed Hasbro's ``big plans'' for Furby precipitated the quick, quiet and out-of-court settlement. After all, he asked, how much brand equity can ancient-in-toy-years Gizmo reasonably claim?
By comparison, Furby, whose suggested retail price is $30, is often sold for $130 or more in Internet auctions. Hasbro's projected profit on the holiday hit has already passed to the $10 million mark.
Hasbro's licensing division is naturally trying to tap into the Tiger toy's success by building a massive tie-in campaign around the character. This is expected to include both a Furby television show and a McDonald's promotion.
Back to.....
