The growth of the Paul Frank brand in the late 1990s and early 2000s was staggering. Within the space of just a few years, the business went from being a cottage industry operating in a garage to an enormous franchise with an estimated $40 million in annual revenue, according to The LA Times, along with 14 flagship stores across the globe in locations including
But at the height of his fame, designer Paul Frank was about to face an almighty downfall. In 2005, it was announced that the creator of Julius the Monkey — as well as every other notable piece of intellectual property in the company’s portfolio, including such characters as Clancy the Giraffe – was stepping down from his creative director position at Paul Frank Industries Inc., ostensibly “to pursue other interests,” as the LA Times reported.
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Frank himself would later argue that he had been forced out, leading to a protracted legal battle between him and his former business partners for control of his creations, including one case in which he sued the company for breach of copyright and another in which he attempted to have Paul Frank Industries dissolved. Neither was ultimately successful.
