History

Copyrights in MOTU (Part Two: 1982)

licence kit kid

In previous posts I’ve covered trademarks and patents in Masters of the universe, and organized the material into a cohesive Masters of the Universe Timeline. In this post I’m going to be covering Mattel’s He-Man-related copyrights, sourced from the US Copyright Office, for 1981. Eventually I’ll fold these dates into the MOTU Timeline article as well.

Some of the copyright entries have some interesting details and comments, so I’ll include most of the original text (errors and all), eliminating some redundancies and the registration numbers.  Each entry has multiple dates, but I’ll sort according to “Date of Publication”. I’ll do a separate post for each publication year.

Sometimes, however, date of publication actually refers to a piece of material that a new claim was based on. So a new set of stickers could be made in 1984, but based on material published in 1982. Typically you’ll see that where the registration date is much later than the publication date. Some discernment is needed to interpret this information.

Please note that I have not been able to locate images for all the materials described, and some of the images I have located could be misplaced. Any assistance from perceptive readers is always appreciated.

1982

January

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-11-28
Title: Masters of the Universe fast male action for licensees.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. Only. Based on Mattel’s Masters of the Universe He-Man figure toy and other Masters of the Universe figure toys.
Date of Creation: 1981
Date of Publication: 1982-01-26
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “two dimensional rendition of a three dimensional figure toy, artwork, text, and photos.”
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.

February

Type of Work: Serial
Title: Mattel toys . : [catalog].
Serial Publication Year: 1982
Imprint: Hawthorne, CA : Mattel Toys.
Description: print material.
Frequency: Annually.
Description based on: 1982 issue.
Authorship on Application: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.
Issues Registered: 1982. Issue title: Success for all seasons. Created 1982;
Pub. 1982-02-10; Reg. 1982-04-06; 1982.

Type of Work: Serial
Title: Mattel toys . : [catalog].
Serial Publication Year: 1982
Imprint: Hawthorne, CA : Mattel Toys.
Description: print material.
Frequency: Annually.
Description based on: 1982 issue.
Authorship on Application: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.
Issues Registered: 1982. Issue title: Success for all seasons. Created 1982;
Pub. 1982-02-10; Reg. 1982-04-06; 1982.
Issue title: Mattel success for all seasons : repro art book. Created 1982; Pub. 1982-04-20; Reg. 1982-11-18;
Other Title: Mattel success for all seasons
Makin’ it with Mattel
Mattel dimension ’78.
Mattel ’79.
Mattel movin’ ahead 1980.
Mattel makes it happen.
Success for all seasons.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-12-02
Title: Puffy stickers, Masters of the Universe : [no.] 82-289(1)
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-02-10
Previous Registration: Appl. identifies Masters of the Universe Fast male action
for licensees art book as preexisting material.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “new artwork, addition of color.”
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Other Title: Masters of the Universe Fast male action for licensees art
book Fast male action for licensees art book

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration  Date: 1984-06-04
Title: Puffy stickers–Masters of the Universe : no. 82-289 (2)
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-02-10
Previous Registration: Prev. reg. as Masters of the Universe fast male action for
licensees art book, 28Nov83, VA 151-306.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “new artwork.”
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Other Title: Masters of the Universe fast male action for licensees art
book

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1984-06-04
Title: Masters of the Universe.
Series: Puffy stickers ; 82-289
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-02-10
Previous Registration: Appl. states derived from Masters of the Universe fast male action for licenees [i.e. licensees] art book, prev. reg. 28Nov83, VA 151-306.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “new artwork.”
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Other Title: Puffy stickers ; 82-289 Masters of the Universe fast male action for licenees [i.e. licensees]

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-12-02
Title: Masters of the Universe : puffy stickers : no. 289.
Description: 5 works.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-02-10
Previous Registration: Appl. states derived from Masters of the Universe fast male
action.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: new artwork.
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Other Title: Masters of the Universe fast male action.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-12-05
Title: Super puffy stickers–Masters of the Universe.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-02-10
Previous Registration: Appl. identifies Masters of the Universe fast male action
as preexisting material.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “new color versions with new and additional
drawing material.”
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-02-22
Title: Battle cat : [no.] 81-5048.
Description: Figurine.
Date of Creation: 1981
Date of Publication: 1982-02-20
Date in Notice: notice: 1981
Previous Registration: Tiger figure toy sculpture prev. reg. 1983, VA 118-557.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: addition of new sculptural material.
Other Title: Tiger figure toy

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1984-12-11
Application Title: He-Man and Castle Grayskull heat design 82; Heat design number 3350.
Title: He-Man.
Description: Iron-on transfer.
Series: Masters of the Universe ; 3350
Notes: Based on He-man figure toy & Castle Grayskull toy castle.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-08-23
Authorship on Application: artwork on heat transfer material: Factors Et Cetera, Inc., employer for hire.
Previous Registration: Figure toy prev. reg. 1982, VA 111-545 & toy castle prev. reg. 1982, VA 111-541.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “new version in two dimensional form.”
Other Title: Masters of the Universe ; 3350 Castle Grayskull He-Man and Castle Grayskull heat design 82 Heat design number 3350.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1984-12-11
Application Title: Skeletor heat design number 3351 82; Heat design number
3351.
Title: Skeletor.
Description: Iron-on transfer.
Series: Masters of the Universe ; no. 3351
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-08-23
Authorship on Application: artwork on heat transfer material: Factors Et Cetera, Inc.,
employer for hire.
Previous Registration:
Prev. reg. as figure toy 14Nov82, VA 111-542.
Basis of Claim: New Matter: “new version in two dimensional form.”
Other Title: Masters of the Universe ; no. 3351
Skeletor heat design number 3351 82
Heat design number 3351.
Names: Mattel, Inc.
Factors Et Cetera, Inc.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-01-04
Title: Masters of the Universe : [no.] 2827.
Description: Col. prints ; 1 v.
Series: Sticker Fun
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-04
Other Title: Sticker Fun

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-02-17
Title: He-Man meets Ram Man.
Series: 82-comics
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-15

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-05-16
Application Title: The Magic stealer mini-comic book, 82-comics.
Title: The Magic stealer.
Description: 1 v.
Series: Masters of the universe
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-15

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1985-12-02
Title: The Menace of Trap Jaw : mini-comics : 82-comics.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-15

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-02-17
Title: The Ordeal of Man-E-Faces.
Series: 82-comics
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-15
Names: Mattel, Inc.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1985-12-02
Title: The Power of Point Dread : 82-comics.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-15

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1985-12-02
Title: The Terror of Tri-Klops : 82-comics.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Copyright Claimant:
Mattel, Inc.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-10-15
Names: Mattel, Inc.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-04-01
Title: Masters of the Universe : Pop-Up game : for 2 to 4 players, ages 6 to 12.
Description: Kit.
Notes: Includes instruction folder, gameboard, pieces & spinner in box.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-12-03
Authorship on Application: text & artwork: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-01-04
Title: Masters of the Universe : 10 posters to paint or color : [no.] 2110.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-12-06
Variant title: Masters of the Universe : 10 posters to paint or color

Type of Work: Visual Material
Registration Date: 1983-01-04
Title: Masters of the universe : no. 2803, a coloring book.
Notes: Cataloged from appl. only.
Date of Creation: 1982
Date of Publication: 1982-12-06

Type of Work: Music
Registration Date: 1983-03-15
Title: Attack track / by Mattel, Inc.
Description: 1 p.
Notes: Music.
Copyright Claimant: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. & Mattel, Inc.
Date of Creation: 1982
Authorship on Application: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.
Names: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc.  Mattel, Inc.

Type of Work: Music
Registration Date: 1983-03-15
Title: Faker / by Mattel, Inc.
Description: 2 p.
Notes: Music.
Copyright Claimant: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. & Mattel, Inc.
Date of Creation: 1982
Authorship on Application: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.
Names: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. Mattel, Inc.

Type of Work: Music
Registration Date: 1983-03-15
Title: He man / Mattel, Inc.
Description: 1 p.
Notes: Music.
Copyright Claimant: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. & Mattel, Inc.
Date of Creation: 1982
Authorship on Application: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.
Copyright Note: C.O. correspondence.
Names: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. Mattel, Inc.

Type of Work: Music
Registration Date: 1983-03-15
Title: Ram man / by Mattel, Inc.
Description: 1 p.
Notes: Music.
Copyright Claimant: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. & Mattel, Inc.
Date of Creation: 1982
Authorship on Application: Mattel, Inc., employer for hire.
Names: Ogilvy & Mather, Inc. Mattel, Inc.