United International Pictures

United International Pictures (UIP) is a British film distribution company and joint venture of Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures that distributes their films outside the United States and Canada that was founded in 1981 by Arthur Abeles and Lew Wasserman. The company is based in London. UIP also had international distribution rights to certain Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and United Artists (UA) films when MGM was part of the venture and also distributed Disney films in certain territories until 1987. In 2001, MGM left UIP, and signed a distribution deal with 20th Century Fox's overseas arm. UIP formerly distributed DreamWorks Pictures releases internationally as well until late 2005.