Sony Pictures Entertainment, in its high-stakes attempt to kidnap James Bond from his 35-year-old home at MGM's United Artists, has made some startling claims of ownership of the 007 movie franchise - and is suing MGM for a cut of the profits generated by the 18-film action series.

Sony is claiming it has the legal right to the 007 franchise through its association with producer Kevin McClory, whose co-ownership of the Bond character stems from collaborations with Bond author Ian Fleming.

Sony suggests in its claim that the cinematic Bond character is not only separate from the literary secret agent, but is in fact partly McClory's creation, and therefore co-owned by him.

(c) Reuters