Mike Judge lets Paramount know he wants the rights to Beavis And Butt-Head back

Despite the massive political fights the David Ellison-owned media company has gotten itself embroiled in in recent years, there’s no indication that Judge is making this move for any especially pointed reasons. (The Puck report described the notification as a “friendly lawyer letter” that Judge was just intending to exercise his legal rights.) But the mere fact that Beavis And Butt-Head has remained a viable property three-and-a-half decades later, with a 12th season of its frequently revived series expected on Comedy Central some time in the next few months, makes it clear just how much love (and money) are still tied up in these two animated idiots. (This is, in part exactly the sort of situation the 35-year clause was intended to kick in for: Properties that creators might have no idea would be massive successes when they initially sold the rights to them away.)

But while Judge getting his U.S. rights to the brand back—which might also take a minute, since the process usually requires at least two years of heads-up to go through—won’t impact Paramount’s ability to air or make money off of the hundreds of TV episodes and two movies Judge has already made for them, it will presumably impact negotiations going forward, opening up the possibility that the series could move out from under the Paramount umbrella after more than three decades with the company.