While Hollywood celebrities often divorce in exactly the same way as average citizens, sometimes they encounter unique challenges – especially in the realm of property division. A recent Hollywood divorce involved a complex issue regarding intellectual property – and it led to a six-year dispute. Intellectual property is an obvious example of a “complex asset,” and this issue may arise in all kinds of divorces across the country.
How Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum Resolved Their Intellectual Property Dispute
In September of 2024, it was reported that Jenna Tatum and Channing Tatum had finally come to an agreement over an intellectual property dispute that arose during their divorce. Six years prior, the pair announced that they were ending their marriage – having first met back in 2006. Although they separated in 2019, they struggled to finalize their divorce – mostly because of one sticking point during property division negotiations.
This issue stems from the Magic Mike film franchise. The first film was released in 2012 and became a surprise hit – earning almost $170 million despite an initial investment of just $7 million. Two more films followed, spawning a franchise that could be worth up to $1 billion (according to Dewan’s attorney). Although the third film appears to be the final entry, the franchise could continue to generate income in the foreseeable future through various sources.
Based on various reports, it appears that Dewan wishes to own part of the Magic Mike intellectual property instead of simply receiving a share of its proceeds up to this date. Although this strategic move may make sense from a financial standpoint, it hit a snag. Tatum’s attorney repeatedly claimed that the franchise earned most of its money after the pair had already separated.
Although the third film was released in 2023, the previous two entries were released before the separation. Tatum himself admits that he “never denied her share of any community assets or income,” implying that he wanted her to walk away from the marriage with at least some slice of the Magic Mike pie.
On the other hand, Dewan alleged that Tatum conspired to keep these earnings from her. She claims that after they both acquired the Magic Mike rights together, he started funneling all earnings from the franchise into an irrevocable trust. He then allegedly transferred ownership of the licensing rights to a third party without telling her.
Regardless of Tatum’s intent, the mere existence of an irrevocable trust would have raised complex issues during divorce discussions – especially if the trust held intellectual property rights. This complex issue led to an impasse in the negotiations, especially since Dewan believed that the intellectual property issue should have been resolved first and foremost. According to her, it was the most important asset in the marital estate, and it therefore impacted all other financial discussions.
Until very recently, many believed that this dispute was heading to trial. However, something happened during the final phases of negotiations – and both spouses agreed to settle. Since the details of the agreement are confidential, we can only speculate about how this breakthrough occurred. One would assume, however, that Dewan walked away with at least some of the Magic Mike intellectual property rights.
About the author