Paws Inc

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Paws, Inc. was founded in 1981 by Jim Davis to handle the growing needs of his comic strip. By 1994, the company made a pivotal move, purchasing all rights to the classic Garfield strips published between 1978 and 1993 from United Feature Syndicate. However, this deal had specific boundaries; United still retained the original black-and-white daily strips and original color Sunday strips. In contrast, the full-color daily strips and recolored Sunday strips became copyrighted to Paws, Inc., as they were considered a distinct product. By 2015, the company had grown substantially, employing nearly fifty artists and administrators. The distribution of the strip is currently handled by Andrews McMeel Syndication, though all rights remain firmly with Paws, Inc.

In Their Own Story

The corporate history of Paws, Inc. took a dramatic turn in 2019 when Jim Davis sold the company to the second incarnation of Viacom. This acquisition included global merchandising and existing licensees, placing Paws under Paramount's Nickelodeon banner within its Kids & Family division. The deal was structured carefully: it excluded rights to the live-action Garfield films from 2004 to 2006, which remain with 20th Century Studios (now part of Disney), as well as the animated film The Garfield Movie, owned by Sony Pictures under Columbia Pictures. Following Viacom's re-merger with CBS Corporation and its subsequent renaming to Paramount Global, the company continued its operations. As of August 2025, with the formation of the parent company Paramount Skydance Corporation, Paws, Inc. is effectively located at the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles, even as Jim Davis continues to draw the comic strips from his base in Indiana.

Reader's Guide

For those navigating the Garfield franchise's corporate landscape, it is essential to distinguish between current and historical rights holders. While Andrews McMeel Syndication distributes the daily strips, Paws, Inc. retains all underlying rights. The company manages a complex portfolio where different media adaptations are owned by different studios; for instance, the 2004-2006 live-action films belong to Disney's 20th Century Studios, while the upcoming animated film is a Sony Pictures production. Fans should note that Paws, Inc. operates out of Los Angeles but maintains its creative heart in Indiana, where Jim Davis still works. The company's history reflects strategic shifts from a small farm operation in Muncie to a major player within the Paramount Global ecosystem, ensuring the longevity of the franchise while respecting the original creator's continued involvement.

Did You Know?

• Paws, Inc. was originally located on Jim Davis's boyhood farm in Muncie, Indiana, before moving to New York City in 2019.
• In 1994, Paws purchased rights to strips from 1978–1993, but United Feature Syndicate kept the original black-and-white daily and color Sunday versions.
• The live-action Garfield films (2004–2006) were explicitly excluded from the 2019 sale and remain owned by 20th Century Studios.
• By 2015, Paws, Inc. employed nearly fifty artists and administrators to manage the franchise.
• Jim Davis continues to draw the comic strips in Indiana even after the company relocated its operations to Los Angeles.