Copyright question about Mego Frankenstein

[J.B.]

I don't understand the flat top Frankie deal. Did Mego not pay Universal Studios for the rights to produce the Frankenstein figure? Aside from the bolts being in the wrong place, the Mego box art clearly shows a flat top rendition of Frankenstein. If Mego was King back in the day, how did AHI get away with an accurate Frankenstein sculpt, with properly placed bolts?

[palitoy]

AHI paid Universal for the license. Mego didn't want to pay the upfront fees.

[J.B.]

AHI paid Universal for the license. Mego didn't want to pay the upfront fees.

Thanks Brian. That AHI sculpt with the blue sleepy eyes is truly creepy. So if Mego had to redo the flat top on the figure, how did they get away with not having to alter the box art?

[palitoy]

Nobody ever sued Mego on the Mad Monsters, the head sculpt changes were done as a preemptive measure in case they were sued. I am guessing it deflates the case if the final product doesn't look like the copyrighted icon.

[J.B.]

Nobody ever sued Mego on the Mad Monsters, the head sculpt changes were done as a preemptive measure in case they were sued. I am guessing it deflates the case if the final product doesn't look like the copyrighted icon.

Makes sense.

Thanks again,
JB