Studio Sues Creator Over 'Masha and Bear' Rights
Studio 'Masha and the Bear' has filed a lawsuit against the character creator Oleg Kuzovkov over exclusive rights to the characters, following the expiration of their licensing agreement in 2025. The case will be heard on October 19, 2026, in Moscow's Kuzminsky District Court.
Consensus
- The Kuzminsky District Court in Moscow has scheduled a hearing for October 19, 2026.
- The lawsuit was filed by Studio 'Masha and the Bear' against Oleg Kuzovkov.
- The dispute concerns exclusive rights to the characters of the 'Masha and the Bear' series.
- The licensing agreement between Kuzovkov and the studio expired in 2025.
- Kuzovkov has announced plans to produce a feature film about the characters through Studio MiM.
- The film is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
- The hearing is set to begin at 11:00 MSK.
Points of divergence
- The studio claims that the characters are the result of its intellectual activity and cites rostrum puppets, screenshots from early episodes, and sculptures in parks as evidence. — kommersant
- The studio asserts that new materials deposited in the Russian Author's Office after July 2025 confirm their rights. — kommersant
- Kuzovkov's lawyers argue that the characters were not transferred to the studio in the 2010 agreement, and that they remain a separate object of copyright. — kommersant
- Kuzovkov sent a script and character descriptions to various studios, including Animaccord, in 2007. — kommersant
- The studio 'Masha and the Bear' claims that Kuzovkov is creating a threat to its rights by developing a new film with updated character designs. — vedomosti
- Kuzovkov's lawyer stated that only the film and episodes were transferred, not the characters themselves, which are a separate copyright object. — vedomosti
- Variety reported in May 2026 that Kuzovkov founded Studio MiM and planned to produce a feature film after regaining creative control. — vedomosti
- The studio 'Masha and the Bear' filed the lawsuit after Kuzovkov announced his plans to produce a feature film. — vesti
Coverage (5 sources)
- Studio "Masha and the Bear" filed a lawsuit for exclusive rights to characters against popular cartoon hero author Oleg Kuzovkov... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- TASS: Studio "Masha and the Bear" filed a lawsuit against the author of the characters — Коммерсантъ
- Studio "Masha and the Bear" will sue the creator of the characters — Ведомости
- Studio "Masha and the Bear" filed a lawsuit for exclusive rights to characters against popular cartoon hero author Oleg Kuzovkov... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Studio "Masha and the Bear" filed a lawsuit against the author of iconic characters — Вести
Key entities
- Oleg Kuzovkov
- Moscow
- Masha and the Bear
- TASS
- Masha and the Bear Studio
- Kuzminsky Court
- Kuzminsky District Court