The loveable, rhythmically challenged “Left Shark” who stole the show during the Katy Perry Super Bowl halftime performance is at the center of a legal battle. Perry claims the dancing (and we use that term loosely) sea creature is her copyrighted intellectual property and sued Shapeways for selling Left Shark figurines without a license…
Experiential Licensing
Harry Potter Drives Theme Park Profits
March 2, 2015
Universal Studios has ridden new Harry Potter attractions, like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which opened in Orlando last sum- mer, to increase its theme park profits 38%. Theme park revenues rose to $735 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to Comcast financial reports…
Apparel
Knights Joins Hanes
March 2, 2015
HanesBrands agreed to acquire Knights Apparel, a leading seller of licensed collegiate logo apparel, from affiliates of Merit Capital Partners. Knights sells apparel representing 400 of the largest U.S. colleges and universities, primarily to mass merchant retailers. The company complements Hanes’ Gear for Sports division, which is a leading seller of licensed collegiate apparel in university bookstores…
Furniture & Home Furnishings
Trisha’s Southern Home
March 2, 2015
Country music artist, cookbook author and Food Network star Trisha Yearwood is moving out of the kitchen with her first line of furniture, Trisha Yearwood Home Collection, in partnership with Klaussner Home Furnishings…
Restaurants
Restaurants Put Licensing on Menu
March 2, 2015
A number of restaurant companies have brought in new executives to expand licensing revenues. Examples:…
Toy Fair 2015: New Toys Promote Engagement and Smart Play; Big Licensors Dominate the Licensing Action
March 2, 2015
The static, one-size-fits-all toy of the past won’t do; today’s toys need to be dynamic, adaptable, and suitable for creative play. Accordingly, user engagement, smart play and interactivity were the primary themes of the new products on display at this year’s New York Toy Fair, including licensed toys. There were 3 variations on these themes…
March 2, 2015
Who’s News
March 2, 2015
Follow the latest hires, promotions, and departures.
Featuring: Disney, Tesco, Dubit, eOne, MAC, and more…
International
Japan: Licensing By Property Sector
March 2, 2015
Sluggish GDP growth and falling retail sales limited licensed retail sales in Japan to $10.1 billion in 2013, according to TLL’s International Licensing Report. That’s a very modest growth rate. And projections for 2014 are not expected to be a whole lot better. Here’s an overview of licensing sales performance in Japan by property sector.…
PRINCESS POWER
“Cinderella” Tie-In Campaigns Targets Women of All Generations
March 2, 2015
Women apparently never outgrow the desire to feel like a princess.
At least that’s the message retailers JCPenney and Kohl’s are promoting as part of a multi- generational approach to tie-ins with Disney’s live-action “Cinderella,” which is due in theaters March 13…
TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
Licensing of Entertainment Properties for Virtual Reality Products
March 2, 2015
Hollywood is getting into virtual reality. VR was all the rage at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where festival goers reportedly waited in line for hours to experience the VR flight simulator “Birdly.” And this was just one of almost a dozen VR displays at Sundance, most of which used the pricey and cutting edge Oculus Rift “head-mounted display” to create their experiences…