The Licensing Letter

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Deadline Passes for TikTok Forced Sale With No Deal in Sight

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief TikTok owner ByteDance has blown by the deadline set by US President Donald Trump to sell the company to a US buyer, but US officials say they are not enforcing the executive order. US officials also say they will not extend the Dec. 4 deadline for TikTok's parent company to sell off the rapidly growing social media app, but CNN and … [Read more...] about Deadline Passes for TikTok Forced Sale With No Deal in Sight

Universal Music Acquires Bob Dylan Catalog in 9-Figure Deal

Bob Dylan must be 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' right about now, after Universal Music Publishing Group announced the acquisition of the singer-songwriter's entire music catalog for a reported nine-figure sum. The exact acquisition cost is still 'Blowin' in the Wind,' but rumors are that it will top Stevie Nicks $100 million deal last week from Primary Wave, and could be one of … [Read more...] about Universal Music Acquires Bob Dylan Catalog in 9-Figure Deal

Roblox Releasing New Game With YouTube Child Star Ryan Kaji

The Roblox Studio, makers of the world’s largest ‘user-created’ video games, is launching a new property created by the world’s most popular YouTube star, Ryan Kaji.  Kaji is the young star of Ryan’s World, formerly known as Ryan ToysReview, who got his start as a young child doing toy unboxing videos with his dad, and expanded the program to include more educational videos on … [Read more...] about Roblox Releasing New Game With YouTube Child Star Ryan Kaji

Flash Gordon Board Game Rocketing to Retail Via Plastic Meatball

King Features is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the cult classic film Flash Gordon by engaging retro-nostalgia experts Plastic Meatball for a multi-year licensing agreement across multiple product categories.  Plastic Meatball is kicking off the program with a retro-style family board game, but the deal encompasses a wide swath of consumer products categories, including … [Read more...] about Flash Gordon Board Game Rocketing to Retail Via Plastic Meatball

Special Report: Warner Bros. May Kill the Movie Theater With Plan to Stream First Run Movies

By Gary Symons, TLL Editor in Chief Glaring headlines involving media conglomerate Warner Bros. signal a dramatic shift in the way the entertainment business is run and how the public will in the very near future consume first run movies. The news appeared in virtually every news outlet in the world, and the headline in the industry publication Hollywood Reporter blared, … [Read more...] about Special Report: Warner Bros. May Kill the Movie Theater With Plan to Stream First Run Movies

EB’s Got Game, With New Line of Xbox Branded Merch

Australian video game retailer EB Games is celebrating the release of the new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles with the release of specially designed Xbox branded merchandise. EB Games stores across Australia are featuring an endcap showcasing several Xbox licensed products including branded unisex apparel and accessories including wallets, caps, travel mugs, drink … [Read more...] about EB’s Got Game, With New Line of Xbox Branded Merch

Sesame Street Learns the ABCs of Licensing With New Breakfast Cereal

There probably hasn't been a food product this good for reading and spelling skills since the invention of alphabet soup! Cereal maker General Mills has partnered with Sesame Workshop to release two new brands of cereal under the Sesame Street brand. The new cereal will begin to appear on store shelves in January and features two varieties: berry flavor with number-shaped … [Read more...] about Sesame Street Learns the ABCs of Licensing With New Breakfast Cereal

Kraft Announces Multiple New Brand Partners

The Kraft Heinz Company and its exclusive licensing agency Brand Central have announced a wide range of new partnerships connected to well known products including Planters, Kool-Aid, Heinz, and Jell-O, among others. “We are excited to welcome our new merchandise partners to the Kraft Heinz family," said Ashley White, Associate Director, Marketing—Global Licensing & … [Read more...] about Kraft Announces Multiple New Brand Partners

Hasbro Gets a Kick Out of Partnership With World Taekwondo Federation

Toy and kids branding giant Hasbro has formed a multi-territory agreement that will see its popular animated property, PJ Masks, join forces with the World Taekwondo Federation for a partnership designed to engage children around the world in the Korean martial art. The campaign, called Get Active with the PJ Masks, will feature 12 World Taekwondo top athletes. The campaign … [Read more...] about Hasbro Gets a Kick Out of Partnership With World Taekwondo Federation