I have been having a very long discussion with another YouTube user that has been going on for several months and has spread across two different videos. The subject was Disney's role in Kingdom Hearts, but it has expanded into other subjects over time. One thing that the user has said that bothers me is that, apparently, Disney claims full ownership of the original characters of the series; meaning that Disney owns Sora, Riku, Kairi, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Roxas, Lea, Xion, Namine, etc. Does anyone here have a source to prove or disprove this, apart from anecdotes and opinions?

As I've understood it Disney owns the entire franchise and any original characters in it.

*Looks to the skies waiting for Flaming Lea to arrive*

I honestly don't know.  I always figured KH was primarily Square's thing and that they owned the FF and original characters, and that the Disney part of things was a collaboration.  I don't know much about Disney's involvement in KH's creation and development, because I never hear anything on their end aside from permission to use their material.  When was the last time you heard a Disney executive going to an expo and talking about the latest Kingdom Hearts game?

Fool. Yes, Disney owns all of those things. For example. I have a die cast keyblade made by square enix. On the bottom, there is a copyright to Disney.

If Disney really does claim ownership of the original characters, man oh man do I have a VERY colorful letter to write to the CEO for not making Kairi an official disney princess. 

 

The way I thought of it, SE owns the original characters, and Disney got involved so they can use the Princesses in the game. As for who claims total ownership... well I don't really know what to say...

Its my understanding that disney owns all things Kingdom Hearts just as much as Square. Because the franchise belongs to both companies.

I honestly don't know.  I always figured KH was primarily Square's thing and that they owned the FF and original characters, and that the Disney part of things was a collaboration.  I don't know much about Disney's involvement in KH's creation and development, because I never hear anything on their end aside from permission to use their material.  When was the last time you heard a Disney executive going to an expo and talking about the latest Kingdom Hearts game?

That is exactly why I think that Square Enix should claim full ownership to all of Nomura's creations.

If Disney really does claim ownership of the original characters, man oh man do I have a VERY colorful letter to write to the CEO for not making Kairi an official disney princess. 

Disney would mutilate her image if that happened. It is probably for the best that that has not happened.

Edited October 12, 201312 yr by Varnish

When was the last time you heard a Disney executive going to an expo and talking about the latest Kingdom Hearts game?

Er.. isn't the CEO of Disney going to make an appearance at the D23 expo in Japan? Like... within 24 hours?

oh god I can imagine the horror *8 days later* "we are proud to announce there will be high school musical kingdom hearts edition"

Er.. isn't the CEO of Disney going to make an appearance at the D23 expo in Japan? Like... within 24 hours?

That might have something to do with D23 being held by Disney. Kingdom Hearts is just one of the things being showcased there.

Well the title screen does say "(Copyright) Disney" followed "FF characters (Copyright) by Square Enix"I would assume if they owned KH, it would have included KH in the SE paragraph.

 

It also says that on the back of the game, "Copyright Disney, developed by Square Enix" so SE only claims to develop it, not own it.  

And while it seems unfair it was a good deal from Disney's perspective seeing how the game has become so popular compared to the unusal concept idea proposed in an elevator

It also says that on the back of the game, "Copyright Disney, developed by Square Enix" so SE only claims to develop it, not own it.

And while it seems unfair it was a good deal from Disney's perspective seeing how the game has become so popular compared to the unusal concept idea proposed in an elevator

I think that it is very unfair. Disney does not live through the hardship of creating the games, and yet they receive a fair portion of the credit for their creation. All they really do is tell Square Enix which characters they are allowed to use, and what they cannot do to their characters.

oh god I can imagine the horror *8 days later* "we are proud to announce there will be high school musical kingdom hearts edition"

*Dies Slowly*

I think that it is very unfair. Disney does not live through the hardship of creating the games, and yet they receive a fair portion of the credit for their creation. All they really do is tell Square Enix which characters they are allowed to use, and what they cannot do to their characters.

 

It is unfair, considering how popular it now is.  But going back, they never thought there would even be a sequel, so it they probably didn't think ahead to how much money they could make if they retained the rights, but if they hadn't given up all the rights to original characters Disney might not have participated in the deal meaning the Disney+FF conglomeration we know as Kingdom Hearts, would be missing the whole Disney aspect.  

Though Disney claims rights, they do not take any rights for the creation or development of the game, they're giving the developers their credit in the process.

It is unfair, considering how popular it now is.  But going back, they never thought there would even be a sequel, so it they probably didn't think ahead to how much money they could make if they retained the rights, but if they hadn't given up all the rights to original characters Disney might not have participated in the deal meaning the Disney+FF conglomeration we know as Kingdom Hearts, would be missing the whole Disney aspect.  

Though Disney claims rights, they do not take any rights for the creation or development of the game, they're giving the developers their credit in the process.

Would it have been possible for the series to have been owned by Square Enix, but with Disney's consent to use their characters, and nothing else?

Would it have been possible for the series to have been owned by Square Enix, but with Disney's consent to use their characters, and nothing else?

it would be 100% better that way

Both square enix and disney own it. Tachnically, *also* nomura owns the characters.

If you read the box, or watch the opening menu load it says copyright of disney, developed by square enix.

Would it have been possible for the series to have been owned by Square Enix, but with Disney's consent to use their characters, and nothing else?

 

It could have resulted in Disney flat out rejecting the idea and not giving permission to use any of their characters. in the game  You need to think of this in a business sense and not as a fan.  Being allowed to own the rights could most likely have been the pushing ground to approve the project.