The Licensing Letter

News & Trends

Sustainability In Licensing: Mattel Exceeds Sustainability Goals For Packaging

Mattel continues to make huge strides toward a sustainable business model, saying the company exceeded its 2020 goal to achieve and maintain 95% recycled or FSC-certified content in the paper and wood fiber used in its products and packaging. The play and entertainment company says it managed to source 97% of its content for products and packaging from recycled materials or … [Read more...] about Sustainability In Licensing: Mattel Exceeds Sustainability Goals For Packaging

Licensing Jobs: Lisa Foster To Head ZAG’s North American Licensing

Animation studio ZAG is adding more horsepower to its licensing team, due to the ongoing success of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. As part of that growth, ZAG is promoting North American Licensing VP Lisa K. Foster (pictured) to the role of Senior Vice President, Licensing to manage the company’s portfolio of brands under the ZAG Heroez label: an umbrella brand … [Read more...] about Licensing Jobs: Lisa Foster To Head ZAG’s North American Licensing

Netflix Acquires Video Game Developer

The streaming giant Netflix is fueling its push into the video game sector with the acquisition of critically acclaimed developer Night School Studio. The move is part of a much wider strategy by Netflix to diversify its revenues, particularly as the company faces increased competition from several well-funded companies in the streaming space, including Disney, Amazon, Apple, … [Read more...] about Netflix Acquires Video Game Developer

Actor Zach Avery Pleads Guilty To $650 Million Licensing Fraud

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The Hollywood actor Zachary Horwitz—better known by his stage name Zach Avery—faces decades behind bars after admitting his role in a $650 million Ponzi scheme. Horwitz was charged in May this year on allegations he defrauded multiple high worth investors in what has been described by authorities as a phony licensing scheme. This week, as … [Read more...] about Actor Zach Avery Pleads Guilty To $650 Million Licensing Fraud

Canadian Experiment Furthers McDonald’s Sustainability Goals

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief McDonald's is continuing its drive toward environmental sustainability with a new program in Canada that will see two Green Concept Restaurants unveiled in London, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia. The move follows a major initiative reported on by The Licensing Letter on Sept. 22 (see link below) that saw McDonald's announce a … [Read more...] about Canadian Experiment Furthers McDonald’s Sustainability Goals

Sesame Workshop Elevates Samantha Maltin to Executive Vice President

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, has promoted Samantha Maltin to Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, expanding her responsibilities to include Strategic Communications, Events, and Archives, while she retains her CMO portfolio. Reporting to Workshop President Sherrie Westin, Maltin will continue to … [Read more...] about Sesame Workshop Elevates Samantha Maltin to Executive Vice President

Happier Happy Meals, As McDonald’s Reduces Use of Plastics

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The world's leading fast food chain McDonald's is making sustainable changes to its Happy Meal toys, which will impact licensors. McDonald's pledged Tuesday to "significantly" reduce the use of plastics in its Happy Meal toys worldwide. The move follows a similar program launched only in the United Kingdom after McDonald's faced a wave of … [Read more...] about Happier Happy Meals, As McDonald’s Reduces Use of Plastics

Three New Faces In Wildbrain’s C-Suite

WILDBRAIN ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS TO FUEL NEW BUSINESS, CREATIVITY AND INTEGRATION WildBrain Ltd. a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, has announced three new appointments for C-level positions in the company. One of those brings a new face to the Wildbrain management team, as Damon Berger has joined the company in the newly created position of Chief … [Read more...] about Three New Faces In Wildbrain’s C-Suite

Blue Kangaroo Expands With Five New Staffers in the UK

The UK creative agency Blue Kangaroo says it has taken on five new graduates to help manage the acquisition of major new contract wins from existing clients in the toy, entertainment, and licensing sectors. Blue Kangaroo is a Gateshead-based agency that works with some of the world’s largest character licensing brands. The company says it's expanded this month due to an … [Read more...] about Blue Kangaroo Expands With Five New Staffers in the UK