--- title: "DeLorean Motor Company Is Suing NBC Over Unpaid Back to the Future Royalties" description: "The DeLorean Motor Company is suing NBCUniversal over allegedly unpaid royalties from the Back to the Future franchise." date: "2022-12-18" modified: "2022-12-18" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/delorean-motor-company-is-suing-nbc-over-unpaid-back-to-the-future-royalties" categories: - "News" --- # DeLorean Motor Company Is Suing NBC Over Unpaid Back to the Future Royalties ![]() *Photo | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop* Nearly 40 years ago, Marty McFly and Doc Brown traveled back in time in John DeLorean's iconic gull-winged sports car. Fast forward to December, 2022 and the [Delorean]() Motor Company is now suing NBCUniversal, according to the [*LA Times*](), for allegedly unpaid royalties from the *[Back to the Future]()* franchise. Few brands have as messy of a history as DeLorean. The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) isn't even owned by the DeLorean estate anymore, instead it's owned by a Stephen Wynne, a British born businessman who now operates a new DMC he formed out of Texas. Wynne bought the rights to the DMC and its intellectual property from the DeLorean estate in 1995 and with it came a prior agreement between the original DMC and NBCUniversal. In 1989, DeLorean made a deal with NBCUniversal for five percent of revenue from merchandise and commercial deals connected to the *Back to the Future* franchise. However, according to DMC's lawsuit, NBCUniversal hasn't held up its end of the deal. DMC claims that NBCUniversal has paid some of its owed royalties but not all and that it's asked for accountings of the money owed, but NBCUniversal either keeps delaying or outright refusing. ![]() *Photo | Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for ReedPop* Not only does NBCUniversal sell loads of *Back to the Future* merchandise featuring the DeLorean but the car was also featured in *Ready Player One*, the 2018 Steven Spielberg-led sci-fi movie. DMC claims the latter of which was done without its authorization. The damages DMC is seeking will be determined in the coming trial. It's only fitting that there's more controversy surrounding DeLorean. The car, the company, and the man have all been surrounded by financial and legal troubles ever since the car was first developed in 1981. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially now that Wynne and DMC are involved with the new DeLorean Motor Company, who's using the iconic name to develop new electric supercars. *Got tips? Send 'em over to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()