Terminator Rights to Be Auctioned

There are no sacred cows in the film industry. The rights to Terminator, the rare franchise not controlled by a major studio, will go up for auction later this month. The price is expected to exceed the $60 million paid for the rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles several weeks ago. Sony Pictures is expected to be a leading bidder for the constellation of rights, which includes the right to make new Terminator films, TV programs, and other spin-offs. The auction does not cover earlier Terminator films, such as Terminator Salvation, the most recent installment, which grossed $380 million worldwide. The sale will test Hollywood intellectual property valuations during a time when industry profits have suffered due to falling DVD sales.