Sony collars Snoopy in £340m deal to take control of Peanuts franchise

Peanuts, which first appeared as a comic strip in 1950 has gone on to become a global franchise spanning TV, toys, films and theme park attractions. Photograph: Everett Collection Inc/Alamy

Sony has taken control of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts franchise including Snoopy and Charlie Brown in a deal worth C$630m (£340m).

The Japanese conglomerate has bought 41% of Peanuts Holdings, which owns the intellectual property Schulz created, from the Canadian children’s entertainment company WildBrain.