TLL Staff
Licensing industry veterans Greg Battersby and Danny Simon have launched their latest book, Licensee Survival Handbook, aimed squarely at manufacturers and licensees.
Written specifically for anyone looking to navigate the often complex and competitive world of intellectual property licensing, the book, endorsed by trade association Licensing International, is being praised as a comprehensive and practical resource for both first-time and seasoned licensees.
Designed as a how-to manual, the Licensee Survival Handbook offers a deep dive into the licensing process, from identifying the right license to maximizing profits through effective program management. It includes contributions from more than 20 industry experts and thought leaders, as well as insights from the authors’ decades-long careers in licensing.
“We wrote this book to fill a clear need in the market,” said co-author Danny Simon. “There are countless manufacturers interested in licensing, but very few know how to do it right, and profitably.”
Chapters cover a broad range of topics critical to licensing success, including product development, marketing, tax issues, social media strategy, data privacy, and even artificial intelligence.
Additional highlights include interviews with industry professionals such as Will Thompson of Changes and a detailed table of average and median royalty rates. An extensive appendix offers licensing forms, agreements, and useful checklists.
Kent Press, a Connecticut-based publisher that specializes in intellectual property topics, has released the book as part of its “Licensing Trilogy,” which also includes The Language of Licensing and Fundamentals of Licensing.
The Licensee Survival Handbook is now available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle editions via Amazon, with an audiobook version and wider retail distribution coming soon.
The authors are both long-time veterans in the licensing industry.
Greg Battersby is a managing member of The Battersby Law Group in Westport, Connecticut, brings over 50 years of experience in intellectual property law.
A former Senior IP Counsel at Gulf & Western (now Viacom), Battersby served nearly 25 years as General Counsel to Licensing International and remains the only practicing attorney inducted into its Licensing Hall of Fame.
He is also an inventor, having patented a computerized baseball pitching simulator, now used by Major League Baseball teams and universities.
Danny Simon boasts over 40 years of licensing experience, having built licensing divisions at Lorimar Productions, 20th Century Fox, and Carolco Pictures. He later founded The Licensing Group, pioneering adult TV entertainment licensing with brands such as Dallas, Dynasty, and Mortal Kombat.
A founding member and former president of Licensing International, Simon has also served as an educator, co-developing the organization’s Certificate of Licensing Studies program with Battersby.
Industry Reaction to the Licensee Survival Handbook
The book has already drawn praise from licensing professionals. Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner, described it as “quintessential and indispensable,” while Stephen D. Smith of Oasis Family Media called it “the bible of the industry,” noting the included licensing forms alone “are worth so much more than the cost of the book.”
Roger Sharpe of Sharp Communications perhaps summed it up best: “I wish this book was out when I started licensing.”
The book is also published by Kent Press, which is the publishing arm of Kent Communications Ltd. and a key content provider to Wolters Kluwer and Thomson Reuters. It specializes in publishing works related to licensing, trademarks, and IP, including The Law of Merchandise & Character Licensing, Licensing Royalty Rates, and a range of practical guides for entrepreneurs and inventors.
Print editions are priced at $27.55 (paperback) and $47.32 (hardcover), with a Kindle version available for $24.00.