The Licensing Letter

Europe

Unilever to Sell The Vegetarian Butcher to Vivera

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Unilever has announced that it has received a binding offer from plant-based food company Vivera to acquire The Vegetarian Butcher. The brand, founded by Jaap Korteweg, was purchased by Unilever in 2018 and has since achieved strong double-digit growth, expanding to over 55 markets worldwide across retail and foodservice sectors. The … [Read more...] about Unilever to Sell The Vegetarian Butcher to Vivera

Konami Launches Yu-Gi-Oh Collections in Anime Hotspot France

By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Konami Cross Media has announced several new licensing agreements for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise across France and continental Europe. The effort, led by Francoise Bouvet of MJA Licensing, serving as the sub-agent for Yu-Gi-Oh! in France, is headlined by deals with the leading French manufacturer Plastoys, and Paris-based Kettei Art, which … [Read more...] about Konami Launches Yu-Gi-Oh Collections in Anime Hotspot France

Who’s News: Freddie Lindsell Pursues Science of Licensing at Bulldog

TLL Staff Bulldog Licensing has announced the appointment of Freddie Lindsell as its new Licensing Coordinator. Freddie’s responsibilities will include supporting the team as a whole across the contract process and product approvals. This post has been created to help manage portfolio growth along with the ongoing evolution of service demands for the award-winning … [Read more...] about Who’s News: Freddie Lindsell Pursues Science of Licensing at Bulldog

University of Toronto Press and British Library Announce Scribe Book

By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter University of Toronto Press and the British Library are releasing a new co-published volume by Patricia Lovett, titled The Art of the Scribe. Scheduled for release in April 2025, The Art of the Scribe builds on the long-standing partnership between the British Library and the UTP. “UTP's extensive reach throughout North America has … [Read more...] about University of Toronto Press and British Library Announce Scribe Book

Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education Launch Licensed Early Learning Resources

By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education have created a new collection of Sesame Street branded resources within Discovery's Espresso platform. The resources will utilize licensed characters from Sesame Workshop's portfolio of children's entertainment brands, alongside research-based content from the non-profit organization's … [Read more...] about Sesame Workshop and Discovery Education Launch Licensed Early Learning Resources

Amazon Acquires Creative Control of the James Bond Franchise

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief James Bond may have a license to kill, but Amazon MGM Studios now has a license to film. Amazon MGM Studios issued a joint statement with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli saying they have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. Most importantly, under the terms of the new venture, Amazon MGM … [Read more...] about Amazon Acquires Creative Control of the James Bond Franchise

Critics Say Europe’s ‘AI Act’ Fails to Protect Artists’ Copyright

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief A key architect of EU copyright law says the legislation has failed to protect the copyright of writers, musicians and artists. Axel Voss is a German centre-right member of the European parliament, who played a major role in writing the EU's directive on copyright in 2019. However, he says the law was not intended to deal with generative AI … [Read more...] about Critics Say Europe’s ‘AI Act’ Fails to Protect Artists’ Copyright

Bing Goes Skiing with the Valli di Sole Tourism Board

By Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter Acamar Films has partnered with the Valli di Sole, Peii and Rabbi Tourism Board to feature its Bing children's series in a licensed skiing initiative. Facilitated by Maurizio Distefano Licensing, the partnership will bring the licensed characters, Bing and Flop, to three skiing parks within the Folgarida Marilleva area for a … [Read more...] about Bing Goes Skiing with the Valli di Sole Tourism Board

Horrible Histories Brings Georgian Fun to Osterley Park

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Families visiting Osterley Park and House in West London will have the chance to step back in time with a new Horrible Histories-inspired event running for over six months. The initiative is the result of a partnership between Rocket Licensing, which represents the popular Horrible Histories brand in the UK and Ireland, and the … [Read more...] about Horrible Histories Brings Georgian Fun to Osterley Park