What Paws, Inc does

Paws, Inc is an intellectual-property holding and licensing entity founded in 1981 by cartoonist Jim Davis to manage the Garfield comic strip and character franchise. The company's core asset is the Garfield IP — an iconic, decades-old comic-strip cat with multi-generational consumer recognition — which it monetizes across theatrical film, television/streaming animation, and consumer-product licensing. Paws, Inc itself is a small Indiana-based creative house (11–50 employees) that functions primarily as the rights owner and licensor rather than as a production studio.

Following Viacom's acquisition of Paws, Inc in 2019, the Garfield property was consolidated under what is now Paramount alongside other flagship kids-and-family assets such as SpongeBob SquarePants and PAW Patrol. Garfield content is now produced and distributed through Nickelodeon Animation Studios for the Paramount+ streaming platform, while theatrical distribution goes through Paramount Pictures. The franchise's commercial resonance was revalidated by the 2024 Garfield film grossing $257 million worldwide, with a sequel confirmed and a new animated series (featuring Lamorne Morris as the voice of Garfield) greenlit for Paramount+ in 2026.

Paws, Inc generates revenue almost entirely through licensing royalties and film-revenue participation. Its named enterprise counterparties are Paramount/Nickelodeon (core, internal post-acquisition) and Wizards of the Coast (minor licensing collaboration via the Magic: The Gathering "Secret Lair x Garfield" card set). Pricing and revenue terms are not publicly disclosed. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of a diversified conglomerate, Paws, Inc no longer operates as an independent commercial entity.

Name

Paws, Inc

Legal name

Paws, Inc

Website

https://garfield.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Paws, Inc is a small Indiana-based IP holding company founded in 1981 by Jim Davis that owns and licenses the Garfield character franchise. Since its 2019 acquisition by Viacom (now Paramount), it monetizes Garfield across theatrical film, Paramount+ animation, and consumer-product licensing alongside SpongeBob and PAW Patrol.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Character Licensing

NAICS

Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (533)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchandising, Character & Brand Licensing (MPADALAF)

Keywords

• Character IP licensing
• Comic strip syndication
• Animated content licensing
• Entertainment brand management
• Merchandise licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Indiana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Royalties: Paws, Inc generates revenue through licensing the Garfield character IP for various media including films, animated series, merchandise, and collaborative products such as trading cards and collectibles.
2. Film Revenue: The 2024 Garfield movie generated $257 million worldwide, demonstrating box office revenue from theatrical releases distributed through Paramount.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Paws, Inc owns and licenses the Garfield character intellectual property created by Jim Davis, granting rights to entertainment and consumer product companies for theatrical films, animated television series, and merchandise collaborations. Following Viacom's 2019 acquisition, the IP is deployed through Paramount's content ecosystem (theatrical releases, Paramount+ streaming, Nickelodeon broadcast) and licensed to partners such as Wizards of the Coast for co-branded products.

Product overview

Paws, Inc is an intellectual property company that owns the Garfield franchise. Following Viacom's acquisition of Paws, Inc in 2019, the Garfield IP now operates under the same corporate umbrella as Nickelodeon Animation Studios. The company's core product is the Garfield character, which manifests across multiple formats: theatrical films (2024 Garfield movie), animated series (new Paramount+ series), and licensed merchandise (Magic: The Gathering collaboration). The IP portfolio is managed within the Paramount/Nickelodeon ecosystem alongside properties like SpongeBob SquarePants and PAW Patrol.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Garfield: The iconic lasagna-loving comic strip cat character and franchise owned by Paws, Inc

Products and services

• Garfield (Intellectual Property) The Garfield character franchise owned by Paws, Inc, encompassing comics, theatrical films, animated television series, and consumer merchandise licensing. The IP is licensed to enterprise partners including Paramount and Wizards of the Coast for content production and co-branded products.
• Garfield (2024 Film) Theatrical Garfield film released in 2024 and distributed by Paramount Pictures, generating $257 million worldwide at the box office. A sequel has been confirmed.
• New Garfield Animated Series New animated Garfield series greenlit for Paramount+ streaming, produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studios with Lamorne Morris voicing the iconic lasagna-loving cat character.
• Secret Lair x Garfield (Magic: The Gathering Collaboration) Garfield-themed Magic: The Gathering trading card collaboration between Wizards of the Coast and Paramount, released as part of the 'Cats Are the Best' Superdrop with three themed drops featuring various artwork styles in foil and non-foil editions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2024 Garfield movie generated $257 million worldwide with sequel confirmed

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wizards of the CoastminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 15 May 2026Collaboration with Paramount to release Secret Lair x Garfield set for Magic: The Gathering, launching June 15 as part of the 'Cats Are the Best' Superdrop. Includes three themed drops with Garfield-themed cards in foil and non-foil editions.
• Nickelodeon Animation StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Nickelodeon Animation Studios, part of Paramount, produces the new animated Garfield series for Paramount+ streaming platform, with Lamorne Morris set to voice the iconic lasagna-loving cat.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Peanuts Worldwide (WildBrain): Owns and licenses the Peanuts IP (Snoopy, Charlie Brown), a classic comic strip character franchise analogous to Garfield. Both are legacy comic strip IPs monetized through film, TV, merchandise, and licensing partnerships.
• Sanrio: Japanese character IP house best known for Hello Kitty, with a business model centered on character licensing across consumer products, media, and themed experiences—directly comparable to Paws, Inc's Garfield licensing model.
• Hasbro Entertainment: Owns and licenses a portfolio of entertainment IP including Transformers, My Little Pony, and G.I. Joe. Comparable as a character IP owner generating revenue through film, TV, and consumer product licensing.
• Mattel: Owns and licenses iconic character IP including Barbie, Hot Wheels, and American Girl. Operates a comparable character IP licensing and content production model, with a major film franchise (Barbie) demonstrating IP-to-screen monetization.
• Pokémon Company International: Licenses and manages the globally dominant Pokémon IP across animation, film, gaming, and merchandise. Comparable as a character-driven IP licensing business with multi-decade cultural longevity.

Broad incumbents

• DreamWorks Animation: Produces and owns animated IP (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon). Comparable as a studio IP owner that licenses characters for consumer products and theme parks, though with broader IP portfolio and active production capability.
• Disney Consumer Products & IP: The world's largest character IP licensor (Mickey Mouse, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar). Comparable business model at massive scale; operates as a broad incumbent in the same character licensing economy.
• Warner Bros. Discovery (Looney Tunes): Owns and licenses classic character IP including Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, and Tom & Jerry. Comparable as a legacy animation character IP owner monetized across media and consumer products.

Emerging players

• Rovio Entertainment (Angry Birds): Owns the Angry Birds IP and licenses it across games, film, and consumer products. Comparable as a character IP holder leveraging mobile/digital origin for multi-format licensing.

Others

• Wizards of the Coast: Hasbro subsidiary and owner of Magic: The Gathering; currently a licensing partner of Paws, Inc via the 'Secret Lair x Garfield' collaboration. Connected as an ecosystem participant and potential future licensing counterparty.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Garfield
• Facebookfacebook.com/Garfield
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paws-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paws, Inc