* It was based on the original Ian Fleming novel "Thunderball," but the rights to this novel had reverted back to Fleming's estate.
* Kevin McClory, who co-wrote and co-produced the original "Thunderball" film, owned the rights to the story and the character of Emilio Largo. He decided to make his own adaptation of the novel, with a different cast and director.
* This was a legal grey area. The Bond franchise was owned by EON Productions, who had produced all the official films. However, McClory had legal rights to use the "Thunderball" story, and he was able to secure a significant sum of money from the original producers to settle the legal issues.
* It wasn't considered "official" by EON Productions. They regarded it as a separate, competing production and refused to acknowledge its connection to their established series.
So, "Never Say Never Again" was a legally produced film, but it was not part of the official Bond canon. It's a fascinating case study in the tangled legal and creative history of the Bond franchise.