Well, they loosened up in the last few years, but a bit to late for the original anime series from the '70s, since they are up to snuff of animation quality, but Tokyo Pop was releasing all of the original manga under the "Lupin III" (Lupin 3rd) moniker -- I guess some kind of agreement between the estate of Maurice LeBlanc (who created "Arsene Lupin") and Monkey Punch (who created "Lupin III") had finally been reached. Monkey Punch told us all about the legal woes in the lobby of the San Diego Comic Con in 1981 or 1982 (we got his attention when we all dressed as the Lupin Gang for the masquerade and struck up a friendship).
August Ragone
Author, EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS
Coming September 1st from Chronicle Books

Director, SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival
October 2007 • Castro Theatre • San Francisco