The Licensing Letter

Gary Symons

ABG Acquires Reebok From Adidas

Authentic Brands Group continues its aggressive acquisition strategy, announcing an agreement to buy the shoe brand Reebok from adidas. Adidas said Thursday it signed a deal to sell the sneaker and sportswear brand to Authentic Brands Group for up to 2.1 billion euros, or roughly $2.5 billion. Reebok had been struggling in recent years, and this acquisition will make it … [Read more...] about ABG Acquires Reebok From Adidas

Licensing Survey Deadline Stretched One Day: Last Chance Is Today!

The Licensing Letter still wants to hear from you, so we have extended our deadline by one day! The TLL Survey was set to close at midnight Sunday, but we are leaving it open until midnight tonight to give you one last chance to participate. The survey data will be published in the next issue of The Licensing Letter Newsletter on Sept. 1. Want to know the average royalty … [Read more...] about Licensing Survey Deadline Stretched One Day: Last Chance Is Today!

Playmobil Goes Where No Toy Has Gone Before

A new collaboration with ViacomCBS has resulted in what may be the coolest Playmobil set of all time: a one-meter-long, interactive replica of the Star Ship USS Enterprise from the original Star Trek series. Playmobil is launching its first ever model of the Starship Enterprise, and the toy company has gone all out. The Playmobil version of the Starship Enterprise boasts … [Read more...] about Playmobil Goes Where No Toy Has Gone Before

Jane Smith Joins Junk Kouture As Chief Content Officer

Jane Smith, the former group director of brand licensing and gaming at Endemol Shine, is the new Chief Content Officer at youth fashion brand Junk Kouture. Smith says she will be focused on growing the brand in a sustainable manner that helps lower carbon emissions. The industry veteran will oversee the global expansion of Junk Kouture and its commercial strategy. Junk … [Read more...] about Jane Smith Joins Junk Kouture As Chief Content Officer

Nelvana Partnering With Canadian Influencers

The content company Nelvana says it's teamed up with Kin Community Canada to bring global licensing deals to two top content creators from Kin’s roster. Under the agreement Nelvana will be securing global distribution and licensing deals for bestselling cookbook author and esteemed vegan chef Lauren Toyota, focusing on indulgent and accessible vegan packaged foods; and home … [Read more...] about Nelvana Partnering With Canadian Influencers

Bakugan Airing Episode on Roblox ‘Metaverse’

In another example of how the Metaverse is rapidly expanding into licensing, Spin Master has announced its Bakugan franchise will be the first-ever to premiere a full-length series episode on Roblox, the global online platform that brings millions of people together through shared experiences. As detailed in The Licensing Letter's Special Report, Licensing in the Metaverse, … [Read more...] about Bakugan Airing Episode on Roblox ‘Metaverse’

Sony’s Funimation Acquires Crunchyroll from AT&T  

Sony Pictures Entertainment took a major step to become  the leader in the world of anime, completing its planned acquisition of Crunchyroll. Sony acquired Crunchyroll from AT&T through its Funimation Global Group, which is already one of the world's largest anime entertainment companies, for over $1 billion. Funimation is a joint venture between SPE and Sony Music … [Read more...] about Sony’s Funimation Acquires Crunchyroll from AT&T  

CAA-GBG To Rep Sesame Street In South Korea and Southeast Asia

Sesame Workshop has appointed CAA-GBG Global Brand Management Group as its new licensing agent for Sesame Street in South Korea and Southeast Asia. Under the agreement, CAA-GBG will work to extend the Sesame Street brand licensing program into new categories, including educational and children’s licensed product opportunities. CAA-CBG is a joint venture between Global Brands … [Read more...] about CAA-GBG To Rep Sesame Street In South Korea and Southeast Asia