The Licensing Letter

News & Trends

Feature: Hasbro Wants to See More Women in Decision-Making Roles

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Research shows that women make 70% of the buying decisions when it comes to toys and games, but only 30% of toy executives and 7% of toy inventors are women. Kim Boyd, a veteran of the toy industry and a top decision-maker at the toy giant Hasbro, says that's something that has to change in order to see more innovation. Boyd was … [Read more...] about Feature: Hasbro Wants to See More Women in Decision-Making Roles

French News Media Suing X Over Copyright Infringement

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Several large French newspapers have filed suit against the social media platform X, alleging it is running their content without payment. The lawsuit was jointly filed against the Elon Musk-owned social media company by some of the top newspapers in the country, including Le Figaro, Les Echos, Le Parisien and Le Monde, in addition to … [Read more...] about French News Media Suing X Over Copyright Infringement

Products of Change Conference 2024 Provided Hope for a Sustainable Future

Submitted by Products of Change On Wednesday, November 6, the retail and brand licensing community assembled at the Royal Geographical Society, London, for a deep dive into the world of sustainability for the Products of Change Conference. Notable industry heavyweights in attendance included the BBC, Penguin Random House, Paramount, Warner Bros, Mattel, Universal Music … [Read more...] about Products of Change Conference 2024 Provided Hope for a Sustainable Future

Tickets Now Available for New and Improved Spielwarenmesse Trade Show

By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter This year's edition of the Spielwarenmesse trade show has announced a range of new travel options and services to streamline access to the event. The updated travel options for the event include an exclusive Spielwarenmesse shuttle bus service that runs between Munich Airport and the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, a direct rail … [Read more...] about Tickets Now Available for New and Improved Spielwarenmesse Trade Show

CBS in Legal ‘Jeopardy’ Due To Sony’s Game Show Lawsuit

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Sony Pictures Television is suing CBS, claiming the network failed to meet its contract obligations for popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.  As well, Sony alleges CBS entered into unauthorized distribution deals in foreign markets. “As stated in our complaint, CBS has been egregiously undercutting the value and profitability … [Read more...] about CBS in Legal ‘Jeopardy’ Due To Sony’s Game Show Lawsuit

Blade Runner 2049 Suing Tesla for Copyright Infringement

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief This may be the most '2024' news story I've seen yet, especially for the licensing industry. Combining artificial intelligence, copyright infringement, sci fi movies, robot taxis, Tesla, and a brash move by Elon Musk, a new lawsuit from the makers of Blade Runner 2049 is like a mashup of 2024 doom-scrolling headlines. Blade Runner 2049 … [Read more...] about Blade Runner 2049 Suing Tesla for Copyright Infringement

Africa Celebrates Its First-Ever Licensing Trade Show

TLL Staff The continent of Africa celebrated its first-ever brand licensing event, called Brand Licensing Africa. The trade show and conference was held as the licensing industry's growth is accelerating in the region, accompanied by developments in African entertainment sectors, such as the animation and film industries. Brand Licensing Africa was held to enable … [Read more...] about Africa Celebrates Its First-Ever Licensing Trade Show

Bed Bath & Beyond Signs Second Strategic Partnership in a Week

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Kirkland's, Inc. has announced a major new strategic partnership with Beyond, Inc.'s Bed Bath & Beyond brand. The deal is aimed at rejuvenating the iconic retailer through a neighborhood store strategy, and includes a major financial investment from Beyond. This collaboration will see Kirkland's Home locations serve as the … [Read more...] about Bed Bath & Beyond Signs Second Strategic Partnership in a Week

NRF Predicts US Holiday Spending Close to $1 Trillion

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The National Retail Federation predicts holiday spending will grow by 2.5 to 3.5% in 2024, boosting U.S. spending to almost $1 trillion. The NRF says the increase will equate to spending of between $979.5 billion and $989 billion in total holiday spending in November and December, compared with $955.6 billion during the same time … [Read more...] about NRF Predicts US Holiday Spending Close to $1 Trillion