In anticipation of the May release of The Angry Birds Movie, Sony Pictures has rallied over 100 partners to deliver an estimated $250 million in promotional value. The new film is expected to provide a healthy boost to licensed sales of video game/online/interactive-based merchandise, which reached almost $5.9 billion in 2015, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business … [Read more...] about Angry Birds Launches With $250 Million in Promotions
Articles
Interactive Branding
Experiential licensing, including theme parks, touring exhibitions and other location-based attractions can provide both revenue and ongoing exposure to build or maintain relationships with fans. Here are some of the latest deals: Marvel partnered with Victory Hill Exhibitions to open the Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N.—an experience that promises to give fans a look at intelligence … [Read more...] about Interactive Branding
Studios Talk Up Future Releases at CinemaCon
Theaters from across the U.S. and around the world met in Las Vegas last week for CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theater Owners. Splashy, star-studded presentations and premiere screenings are norm at CinemaCon and this year was no exception: Disney screened Captain America: Civil War in its entirety, and Warner Bros. trotted out stars … [Read more...] about Studios Talk Up Future Releases at CinemaCon
TLL Survey: Corporate Licensing Up 3% in 2015 Fueled by Food/Beverage & Automotive
By Karina Masolova At $27.6 billion, corporate trademarks and brands accounted for 27% of all retail licensed sales in the U.S. and Canada in 2015, the most of any segment (followed by fashion at 20% and sports at 14%), according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. But while it may be big, the corporate segment was also devoid of drama growing at a slow … [Read more...] about TLL Survey: Corporate Licensing Up 3% in 2015 Fueled by Food/Beverage & Automotive
Food/Beverage in Strong Demand Amongst Corporate Brands
By Karina MasolovaFor the sixth straight year in a row, food/beverage outperformed all other corporate trademark and brand segments with 4.5% growth in 2015, according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. Overall, the eating and drinking-related segments continue to represent the growth area in corporate licensing, although the growth of the restaurants … [Read more...] about Food/Beverage in Strong Demand Amongst Corporate Brands
Who’s News
Mattel forms Mattel Creations. The new theatrical, TV and digital content creation division will utilise the firm's portfolio of brands to drive content across multiple platforms and be headed by Mattel’s Chief Content Officer, Catherine Balsam-Schwaber. Endemol Shine North America combines its franchise management and licensing integration teams to create the newly formed … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Licensing Execs Are Satisfied, Gunning for the Long Haul
By Karina Masolova Licensing professionals are seasoned lot, happy with their jobs and prepared to put in the hours, according to The Licensing Letter’s 2016 Salary Survey. Among the findings: Over half of respondents (54%) have been involved in the licensing business for 10 years or more and another 19% for five to ten years. And this staying power extends to the job … [Read more...] about Licensing Execs Are Satisfied, Gunning for the Long Haul
Branded Weed in Full Bloom
2016 may be the year the market for celebrity licensed marijuana products finally takes off. Marley Natural, the official Bob Marley cannabis brand, went on sale in California in February, with plans to expand to other U.S. states where cannabis is legal in 2016 and internationally in 2017. Whoopi Goldberg's Whoopi & Maya brand, a line of cannabis products created to … [Read more...] about Branded Weed in Full Bloom
Gender Gap in Licensing? Don’t Count on It
The following is an excerpt from TLL’s feature story on compensation. See the complete run-down here, including job satisfaction, hours worked and breakdowns by title. By Karina Masolova. According to respondents to The Licensing Letter’s 2016 Salary Survey, all is well for gender parity in licensing. Industry men and women work the same hours and draw the same paycheck, after … [Read more...] about Gender Gap in Licensing? Don’t Count on It
You Make the Call: Is This Infringement?
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. The never-ending legal adventures of Deadmau5 and his famous trademark highlight key issues in copyright and trademark law as they relate to licensing. Question 1 Does this... ...infringe on this? The logo on the left, which belongs to one Joel Zimmerman, aka Deadmau5, bears a noticeable resemblance to the iconic logo below. So … [Read more...] about You Make the Call: Is This Infringement?