Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions)
The first question is come from the line of Elizabeth Osur with Citigroup. Please proceed.
Liz Osur - Citigroup
I just have two questions. First, could you talk about whether or not there is any material impact from the Ghost Rider out-performance in the box office? Second, could you give us an update on licensed contracts for Spider-man 3 versus its prior consideration and as well for Fantastic Four?
F. Peter Cuneo
Liz, your first question regarding Ghost Rider, we have stated I think previously that in our guidance for Ghost Rider, we really had no material financial impact from the film or from toys or from licensing. This is a property that is the first time out and it is a property that is difficult to some degree for toys and licensing because of the nature of the character.
We are very pleased about the results of the box office. I think that it proves again that Marvel can successfully take a lesser known character and make them successful around the world, but there is no real material positive impact on our numbers from Ghost Rider.
Your second question regarding licensing on Spider-man 3 versus prior films, we have mentioned that the -- we certainly in terms of guarantees, as guarantees for Spider-man 3 are much higher than Spider-man 2. They are roughly double or more than Spider-man 2. We remain optimistic about this area for the year but of course we are only in February so it is a little early to say much about that. But so far, the business would appear to be strong, although we have to of course watch sell-through of our products.
Operator
The next question is from the line of David Miller with Sanders Morris Harris. Please proceed.
David Miller - Sanders Morris Harris
Good morning. A couple of questions, Peter or anyone on the call, it looks like the publishing results in the period also benefited from the year-over-year growth in custom publishing. Could you just define what custom publishing actually is? Is that just sort of a fourth quarter effect due to the fact that it is a Christmas quarter, calendars, et cetera? I am just curious as to what that exactly is.
Then also, it looks like there was a $5.2 million payment in royalties and service fees related to initial shipments by Hasbro. Why wasn’t that booked in the current quarter as opposed to the fourth quarter? Thanks.
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