New Japan "buys" Inoki

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

Yukes, a game company and the majority owner of New Japan, announced on 3/29 that New Japan has acquired various rights to Antonio Inoki, including trademarks and copyrights, from a property management company founded by Inoki himself. This makes New Japan the only entity in the world that has the right to the likeness of Inoki.

So, Inoki is now owned by the company that he used to own (and lead by his son-in-law)?

Imagine Triple H becomes the WWE owner and gets all the rights to Vincent Kennedy McMahon.

[Luds]

That's probably gonna happen anyways Hisa! McMahon will give it to trip...

[DANGEROUS DAN]

Granted I did not major in business but there iss something about this deal which seems alittle odd...

[raggin kilbasa]

how can somebody buy the rights to somebodys name especially if it's his real name,if not what is his real name.

[DANGEROUS DAN]

VKM does it all the time. How many guys who are now on the indy circuit have had to modify their names because of VKM's lawyers?

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I just read this as "no other company is allowed to use the likeness of Inoki to make money without paying New Japan for the right to do so". Even if Inoki is engaged in another business venture, he would still have to pay NJ. Which brings up the question: what happens if Inoki puts on another MMA fight (like the one in the Amazon)? Or are these shows under NJ management already?