The Jim Henson Company
In 2000, Jim Henson’s children sold the company to the German media company, EM.TV. In January 1, 2001 they sold the Sesame Street Muppets to Sesame Workshop.  In 2003 Henson's children bought back the company. In 2004, they sold the rights to The Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House characters to The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company now owns all Muppet-related trademarks, including the word “Muppet”.