Friday the 13th Rights Explained (Part 2): Who Really Owns Jason Voorhees, Camp Crystal Lake, and Why Nothing’s Happening
f you read yesterday’s deep dive into the tangled history of the Friday the 13th license, welcome back!
My head’s still spinning faster than Jason’s victims, but this time we’re cutting straight to the chase, who actually owns the Friday the 13th franchise and how we got here.
So let’s get everyone on the same page with no lawyer talk, and no confusion.
So the next time some guy in Spirit Halloween tells you Warner Bros. “forgot to credit someone,” you’ll have the actual facts.
Remember: never argue with someone who refuses to Google.
The Legal Timeline
2016 – Victor Miller Files Termination Request
Victor Miller, the screenwriter of the 1980 original Friday the 13th, filed a “termination of rights” notice under U.S. copyright law.
He claimed he was an independent contractor, not a “work-for-hire” employee under Sean Cunningham’s Georgetown Productions.
If true, that meant the rights could legally revert to him after 35 years.
2018 – Court Rules in Miller’s Favor
A Connecticut judge agreed: Miller’s script was not work for hire.
He regained U.S. rights to his screenplay and everything in it; Pamela Voorhees, young Jason, and Camp Crystal Lake.
However it is interesting to note here, that neither Miller nor Cunningham individually owns the rights to Camp Blood, at least not from anything I’ve seen, read or heard. That means both are free to use the term.
2019 – Cunningham Appeals
Horror Inc. (Cunningham’s company) and Manny Company filed an appeal to block the decision, arguing Miller’s script was created under contract and that Cunningham’s ownership extended through the sequels.
2021 – Final Ruling
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling in Miller’s favor.
The Supreme Court refused to take the case, ending the fight.
Miller officially owns his screenplay in the United States only.
Who Owns What Now
| Rights Holder | What They Control | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Miller | The 1980 screenplay, Pamela Voorhees, young Jason, and Camp Crystal Lake | These can be used in U.S. based projects such as A24’s Crystal Lake prequel series. |
| Sean Cunningham / Horror Inc. | Adult Jason (hockey-mask era), sequels, the Friday the 13th trademark, and all international rights | Can make movies, games, and merch internationally using the full franchise, just can’t use Miller’s IP domestically. |
That means if Sean Cunningham makes a sequel, he can use adult Jason, but not Pamela, Camp Crystal Lake, or even the young drowning-boy version of Jason… unless he gets Miller’s permission.
Why the Crystal Lake TV Show Exists
A24’s Crystal Lake for Peacock lives in Miller’s sandbox.
It can legally use Pamela Voorhees, young Jason, and the name Camp Crystal Lake.
It just can’t use adult Jason or the hockey mask.
That’s why Bryan Fuller (before leaving the project) described the series as both a prequel and reimagining.
They can dance around Jason’s future, but they can’t show the full-grown, machete-wielding version.
Why You Still See Paramount and WB Logos
This confuses a lot of people, so let’s break it down.
- Paramount originally distributed Parts I–VIII under a series of 10 year licensing extensions.
- New Line Cinema (and later Warner Bros.) handled Jason Goes to Hell, Freddy vs. Jason, and the 2009 remake.
When Blu-rays, 4K editions, or masks reuse footage or art from those specific films, those studios get residual credit, not ownership.
It’s a legal courtesy acknowledging who distributed the original asset.
Same goes for merch.
If a company prints Part IV Jason on a T-shirt, they pay a small license fee to Paramount.
If it’s Jason X, that check goes to Warner Bros.
It’s all tied to which studio handled distribution, not who currently owns the character or franchise.
The Simple Takeaway
- Victor Miller owns the original story in the U.S.
- Sean Cunningham / Horror Inc. owns the sequels and brand.
- Both must agree to make a new full length movie if they want to use the others intellectual property.
- Until then, we’ll have Miller’s Crystal Lake TV series and Cunningham’s Jason Universe merch and shorts.
So the next time someone points to a Paramount logo and claims “they own Jason again,” you can confidently shake your head and walk away.
Final Thoughts
Look, I know it probably sounds comforting to some fans that Horror Inc. still holds the franchise rights.
But seriously, ask yourself: what have they actually done with them?
Yeah, we got Freddy vs. Jason. And don’t get me wrong, a bad Freddy and Jason movie is still better than no Freddy vs. Jason.
But come on. While I’ll always have a soft spot for Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X, they’re still… trash fire classics.
My guess? Expect Cunningham to do what he’s been doing for decades:
rent the rights out, trap new projects in development hell, and keep us all waiting for years.
Maybe, maybe… when Sean Cunningham IV inherits them, your great-grandkids will finally get to watch the sequel we’ve all been waiting our whole lives for.
Epilogue: The Real Horror of Horror Inc.
Look, I know that’s harsh, and if I’m wrong, I’ll be happy to be wrong about it, but it doesn’t look good, horror fans.
Horror Inc. has done nothing.
They’ve had the rights in their current form for almost five years, and what do we have to show for it?
The death of a beloved asymmetrical horror game (Friday the 13th: The Game), and worse, they shut down fan projects that used that same dead IP.
Unless they plan to resurrect IllFonic and Gun’s legendary asym, it feels less like brand care and more like corporate flexing.
They promised two new games. Where are they?
Where’s the gameplay footage, proof of life, anything?
We keep hearing talk of a “direct sequel” to the Paramount timeline… awesome!
But when? Where?
All we’ve seen is Jason showing up as a DLC skin in a WB fighter that’s already died twice.
To be fair, Sweet Revenge (their short film) was solid and honestly, a lot better than nothing and a fun addition to the lore as well.
And yeah, Jason in Fortnite is cool, sure.
But that’s it.
Keeping Friday the 13th trapped under Horror Inc. feels like Tommy Jarvis chaining Jason to the bottom of Crystal Lake.
Maybe one day a psychic will come along to resurrect it…
but don’t hold your breath.
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✅ Excerpt (for WordPress & Yoast)
Confused about who owns Friday the 13th and Jason Voorhees? We break down the lawsuit, the rights split between Victor Miller and Sean Cunningham, and why Horror Inc. has done practically nothing with the world’s most famous masked slasher.