German zoo sues for cut of polar bear's millions

BERLIN — No animal in Europe is cuter than polar bear Knut — or has generated more cash for a zoo. Now there's a legal fight over all those millions.

A German zoo claiming ownership of Knut said Wednesday that it's going to court to force the Berlin Zoo to disclose how much Knut has generated in proceeds, part of a first step in its bid for a slice of the Knut goldmine.

The Neumuenster Zoo in northern Germany owns Knut's father, Lars, and said it is the legal owner of his first offspring — Knut — under a deal made with the Berlin Zoo, where the cub was born in 2006.

The Berlin Zoo has said it recognizes Neumuenster's ownership in principle, but maintains that does not give Neumuenster a right to any proceeds from the polar bear's huge success.

Irresistibly cute Knut — raised by hand in Berlin after his mother rejected him at birth — became a media phenomenon in early 2007. The Berlin Zoo reported a 27 percent increase in visitors last year and had a 2007 profit of nearly $10.7 million. It has licensing agreements for all kinds of Knut products.