The Licensing Letter

Sporting Goods

Top 5 Sports Licensing Stories of 2015

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. 1. Nike Takes NBA from Adidas In March, Adidas announced that it would not renew its 11-year partnership with the NBA. Nike swooshed in and by June secured an 8-year, reported $1 billion deal to be the Association's on-court uniform supplier starting in 2017. 2. Adidas Takes NHL from Reebok Six months after walking away from the NBA account, Adidas won … [Read more...] about Top 5 Sports Licensing Stories of 2015

Licensee Accusation: Asics Deliberately Tried to Drive Us Out of Business

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. What Happened: Asics gave Windsor Financial Group, LLC, financing and exclusive rights to open and operate 13 Asics stores, including flagships in Boston and New York. The deal was supposed to run for 20 years but a couple of years in, Asics terminated the agreement. As a result, Windsor had to close the stores and eat the millions of dollars it had … [Read more...] about Licensee Accusation: Asics Deliberately Tried to Drive Us Out of Business

Licensing By The Numbers

Scandal Costs VW $10 Billion in Brand Value Earlier this year, the VW brand was calculated to be worth $31 billion, the third most valuable auto brand in the world. But the recent emissions scandal has tarnished the "people's car" company's longstanding reputation for reliability and trust. By the time the dust settles, VW is expected to lose an estimated $10 billion in brand … [Read more...] about Licensing By The Numbers

California Surfing Brand Quiksilver Files Chapter 11

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. California surfing and skateboard clothing chain Quiksilver Inc. became the latest retailer to file for bankruptcy. The company began licensing the Quiksilver brand in 1976 for wetsuits, helmets and other clothing for "mountain and ocean lovers" and rode the surfing and skating fashion wave of the late 1990s and early 2000s to expansion along with brands … [Read more...] about California Surfing Brand Quiksilver Files Chapter 11

Adidas Re-Ups with Indiana University for $53.6 Million & More

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Updated Sept. 8, 2015 Indiana University Athletics' new $53.6 million apparel deal with Adidas is believed to be the fifth richest in all of college athletics. Key terms: Eight-year extension of current agreement through 2024; Adidas $6.7 million annual commitment to IU Athletics (as compared to $3.7 million under the previous agreement); Adidas to … [Read more...] about Adidas Re-Ups with Indiana University for $53.6 Million & More

Tennis Star Andy Murray Dons Adidas after Signing with Under Armour

By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Andy Murray easily won his first round U.S. Open match the other night. But if the result was predictable, the footwear was anything but. Murray wore Adidas—this after signing a shoe deal with Under Armour in December. Shades of Raymond Weil brand ambassador Charlize Theron in a Christian Dior watch? Or Jessica Simpson's dissing her own "JS" brand … [Read more...] about Tennis Star Andy Murray Dons Adidas after Signing with Under Armour

MLB & Majestic Re-up

Continuing a partnership that started in 1982, Majestic Athletic will remain the uniform licensee of Major League Baseball Properties through 2019 with exclusive rights to design, produce and distribute on-field uniforms, authentic collection apparel, replica jerseys and other men’s and women’s fan apparel for all 30 MLB teams. MLB jersey sales were strong in 2014, despite the … [Read more...] about MLB & Majestic Re-up