Questions
Answers
Q. Does great Ormond Street Hospital have the copyright in Peter Pan in perpetuity?
A. No, the hospital has a right to royalty in perpetuity, but this is not a true copyright. This right only applies to the UK for stage productions, broadcasting and publication of the whole or any substantial part of the work or an adaptation of it. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/UKpga_19880048_en_1.htm
Q. How valuable has Barrie's gift of copyright been to the hospital?
A. Over the years, it's been enormously valuable - not only in financial terms but also as a symbol and icon, and has brought significant income to the hospital. Because Barrie asked the hospital never to reveal the actual income received, we have always respected his wishes.
Q. Does the Peter Pan income run into millions?
A. Public speculation has been wildly exaggerated and the Peter Pan income is certainly a long way off being our main source of charitable income.
Q. What do I need to do if I want to put up a production of Peter Pan?
A. Our theatre agents Samuel French in the UK and US and SGAE in Spain will be happy to give you all the information you need, whether you are professional or amateur. Visit our Theatre Agents' page at http://www.gosh.org/peterpan/copyright/agents/
Peter Pan is in the public domain everywhere else so no permission would be required.
Q. What do I need to do if I want to put up a school production of Peter Pan (UK only)?
A. We offer two options:
Note: we regret we cannot waive fees when third parties' adaptations or versions are used (e.g. Piers Chater Robinson's musical or David Barrett's version) as they are subject to other licences.
For school productions in the US, please contact our agents Samuel French Inc. http://www.gosh.org/peterpan/copyright/agents/
Q. Would I be allowed to write my own adaptation of Peter Pan, as a panto/musical/puppet show/ballet etc?
A. Yes, but you need to acquire a licence first - either through our agents (see above) if you are a professional or amateur company, or the Peter Pan team at the charity peterpan@gosh.org if you are a school.
Q. What was the deal with Disney?
A. Walt Disney Corporation bought exclusive animation rights from the hospital in 1939 and the animated film came out in 1953. Their own sequel, Return to Neverland, came out in 2002, under licence from Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
Q. Does the hospital or charity receive income from sales of Disney's Peter Pan DVDs and merchandise such as toys, games, etc?
A. No, the original contract did not include these - since they did not exist in 1939.
Q. What about the other films made about Peter Pan?
A. Apart from the Disney animated movie, there have been many films made, starting with a silent movie by Paramount in 1924 and more recently Columbia Pictures (part of the Sony Pictures Entertainment Group) made the 2003 movie (with Jeremy Sumpter as Peter Pan and Jason Isaacs as Captain Hook).
Previously, Spielberg directed a sequel, Hook, with Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan returning to Neverland to fight Dustin Hoffman's Captain Hook.
Both films were licensed by the charity.
Q. What about Finding Neverland, with Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet?
A. That was a fictionalised version of Barrie's life, not the story of Peter Pan so no licence from the hospital was required. A fee was paid for permission to use scenes from the play Peter Pan within the film story.
Q. Why is Peter Pan in Scarlet the "official" sequel?
A. Because the hospital, as copyright owners, commissioned it themselves through a competition. While the original Peter Pan was still in copyright, no-one else would have had the right to write or publish a sequel on a worldwide basis.
Q. Where can I buy a copy of Peter Pan in Scarlet?
A. It is available in the UK in Great Ormond St Hospital shop, www.oup.com, all good book shops and www.amazon.co.uk.
Q. Is there going to be a film based on Peter Pan in Scarlet?
A. Film rights have been optioned to Headline Pictures, working in conjunction with BBC Films and the UK Film Council. No release date has been set.
Q. What about other books written about Peter Pan, such as Peter and the Starcatchers?
A. That book, together with the titles that followed in the series, originated in the US and are 'prequels', i.e. the action is set before that of Barrie's story. We have received royalties for these titles from European publishers when Peter Pan was still in copyright.
Q. Can we include the Peter Pan logo on products and promotional literature?
A. Only with our permission and once the details have been agreed by us.
Q. Do only well known companies work with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity?
A. No. Any company that wants to fundraise, promote products to parents of children, or add value to their brand, could benefit from working in partnership with us.
Q. What paperwork is there to sign?
A. A standard licensing contract is necessary for all commercial relationships, which details how the logos will be used and how royalties will be paid to us.
Q. Are the logos registered trade marks?
A. Yes, to ensure that whenever they are used they generate money for the charity. This is why a licensing contract is required.
Q. Is VAT an issue?
A. Yes. All agreed royalties are subject to VAT, for commercial partnerships. However, as long as your company is VAT registered all relevant VAT payments can be reclaimed. VAT is not required on fundraising or corporate donations.
Q. Are there any limits on companies who you will work with?
A. There are some restrictions on commercial partners to protect both yourselves and the Charity. For instance how long you’ve been trading, minimum guarantee for the partnership and there a few types of products and services we would not wish be involved in.
