How Did James Bond Spark a 50‑Year Legal War Over Who Owns 007?

In this episode of No Infringement Intended, Austin Padgett and Rusty Close unpack the half-century battle over who really owns James Bond. They trace how Ian Fleming's early collaborations fractured the rights to Thunderball and Casino Royale, why that split spawned two "rogue" Bond films outside the official series, and how it ultimately took more than 50 years to bring the 007 franchise back under one roof. Along the way, Austin and Rusty clarify what counts as a "joint work," how tenancy in common lets any co‑owner license a work while still owing everyone else a share, and why getting clear contracts in place at the start of a project is the only way to keep a blockbuster character from turning into a long‑term legal headache. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.