Editing Creem (section)

==Change of ownership and disputes==
Ownership of the magazine, trademark and intellectual property has changed hands numerous times since the death of publisher Barry Kramer in 1981, and the magazine's subsequent bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite book |first=Elizabeth A. |last=Hoffmann |chapter=What is Workplace Dispute Resolution? |date=2012 |title=Co-operative Workplace Dispute Resolution |pages=25–46 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9781315574226-3 |isbn=978-1-315-57422-6}}</ref>

Arnold Levitt bought the rights to the magazine in 1986 from Connie Kramer, and added titles including one devoted exclusively to metal along with numerous monthly special editions, before shutting down in 1989. In 1990, he licensed it to a group of Florida investors who published a bimonthly glossy tabloid version, but it was not successful either.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|last=McKinley |first=James C. Jr |title=Rock Chronicle Inspires Battle Over Its Legacy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/arts/music/the-future-of-creem-magazine-is-complicated.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=2 January 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 27, 2011}}</ref>

The release of writer and director [[Cameron Crowe]]'s semi-autobiographical film ''[[Almost Famous]]'' in 2000, and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]'s portrayal of editor Lester Bangs, rekindled interest in ''Creem'' and rock journalism of the era. Former ''Creem'' photographer Robert Matheu formed Creem Media in 2001 with his cousin Jason Turner and Michigan businessman Ken Kulpa. They negotiated a five-year licensing deal with Levitt, with the option to purchase the magazine's intellectual property rights for $100,000. There was talk about a quarterly print publication in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105244150/jeff-karoub-rock-magazine-creem-plans/|agency=Associated Press|title=Rock magazine Creem plans return to print world|date=July 17, 2011|first=Jeff|last=Karoub|work=Miami Herald|access-date=July 8, 2022|page=M13|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> They launched a website and generated new content, primarily to maintain the brand.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

As the five-year deadline of the licensing deal approached, Matheu sought investors, and got a $52,500 investment from Los Angeles disk jockey Chris Carter and Barry Kramer's son J.J. Kramer. Matheu provided the balance of the $100,000.<ref name=NYTimes />

* Carter and Kramer claim that they were verbally promised one-third of Creem Media for their investment by Matheu.
* Turner and Kulpa claim they were never consulted about the deal, and never approved it.
* Matheu claims he never promised Carter and Kramer such a large share for their investment.

In 2007, Kramer sued in New York County and won,<ref name="Observer">{{cite web |author=Neyfakh, Leon |title=No Rock of Love as Gents Try to Creem Each Other |work=The New York Observer |date=2007-11-27 |url=http://www.observer.com/2007/no-rock-love-gents-try-creem-each-other |access-date=2009-05-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010004801/http://www.observer.com/2007/no-rock-love-gents-try-creem-each-other |archive-date=2008-10-10 }}</ref> as the Court ruled that Creem Media could take no action without the approval of Carter and Kramer.

Creem Media was sued by T.A. Riggs Licensing LLC in 2010 for breach of contract. Creem Media lost that suit, and Riggs was awarded $575,000. Creem Media was either unable or unwilling to pay. In November 2011, Creem Media attempted to have the judgment set aside, but in January 2012, the Court upheld the Judgment. In February 2012, the Court appointed a Receiver to seize all of Creem Media's assets to help satisfy the outstanding judgment. The Receiver then transferred all of the Intellectual Property from Creem Media, Inc to Riggs. CREEM International, Inc purchased the assets from Riggs to become the new successor company with all rights of ownership.

Matheu tired of the legal battle and resigned from the board of Creem Media in 2009. Creem Media, Inc. became defunct shortly thereafter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nvsos.gov/sosentitysearch/CorpDetails.aspx?lx8nvq=Kvb6yrpUzWNsmfY3hM9L7A%253d%253d&nt7=0|title=Nevada Secretary of State Business Entity Search.}}</ref>

In 2017, a group headed by Kramer acquired the ''Creem'' brand and its archives.