Look out fans of Nick Jr.’s famous bilingual cartoon, Dora the Explorer. It seems the voice of Dora has been cheated out of millions of dollars… or has she?  Caitlin Sanchez, the 14 year old voice of Dora, has claimed that executives of the show have cut her out of profitable earnings.

Sanchez and her family claim that she was forced to sign a contract without understanding it, not only by Nickelodeon but also her own agent.  She was to sign the contract as-is, with no revisions allowed.   Allegedly, she was cheated out of “millions, possibly tens of millions” of profits she feels she is entitled to.

Reports show Sanchez is making $5,115 per episode–not including the recording time it takes to get the completed episode.  She also receives $40 for travel per day.  Does that seem like a lot of money for a 14 year old?  I think so.  However, the franchise has made over $11 billion in sales. Shouldn’t she be receiving some of that money? I also think so.

Seems I am in a catch 22 with this article.  She is only 14 years old, and she is making more money than I am!  But the franchise alone is huge!  Couldn’t Nickelodeon afford to throw her some more bones?  What do you think?

Filed under: Civil Litigation, Franchising, Trademarks by Yau Jo-Anne Wednesday, October 13th, 2010