The Licensing Letter

Licensing Law

Analysis: Trump Tariffs on Film a Disaster Movie Plot for Hollywood and Licensing

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief In a move straight out of a blockbuster political drama, former President Donald Trump has imposed a 100% tariff on foreign-made films. The president issued notice on a full-scale trade offensive to save what he called the “dying” American movie industry. The bare bones announcement has raised concerns not just among foreign film … [Read more...] about Analysis: Trump Tariffs on Film a Disaster Movie Plot for Hollywood and Licensing

“Licensee Survival Handbook” a How-To Guide to IP Licensing

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 … [Read more...] about “Licensee Survival Handbook” a How-To Guide to IP Licensing

Licensing Veterans Release Comprehensive Guide: ‘Fundamentals of Licensing’

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Greg Battersby and Danny Simon have released their latest book, Fundamentals of Licensing. The how-to guide covers every aspect of developing and managing a licensing program from inception to execution, aiming to maximize profitability. Designed for both newcomers and experienced professionals, the book provides insights into best … [Read more...] about Licensing Veterans Release Comprehensive Guide: ‘Fundamentals of Licensing’

Opinion: Grok 2 Shows We Need New Copyright Laws for AI and Social Media

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief If you thought artificial intelligence posed a threat to your intellectual property before, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The AI model Grok, released by the Elon Musk-owned developer xAI, has already raised new concerns over copyright infringement since the Grok 2 update was released in August last year. Unlike other AI chatbots that … [Read more...] about Opinion: Grok 2 Shows We Need New Copyright Laws for AI and Social Media

Warner’s Claim to Superman Brand Hit With Legal Kryptonite

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The estate of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster has filed a copyright lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The suit comes as Warner and DC Comics are filming a new Superman film as a the anchor to a major reboot of the DC Universe. But the Shuster estate has revealed what it believes is some legal kryptonite, claiming that the … [Read more...] about Warner’s Claim to Superman Brand Hit With Legal Kryptonite

CISAC Study Predicts Human Creators Will Lose Revenue to Generative AI

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief At its heart, the entire entertainment industry is based on the work of human content creators, be they musicians, artists or writers, but that relationship is now threatened by the advent of Generative AI. That's the view of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which has just released a study … [Read more...] about CISAC Study Predicts Human Creators Will Lose Revenue to Generative AI

Gibson Guitar Fraud Shows Importance of Brand Protection Technology

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The recent seizure of 3,000 fake Gibson guitars highlights the need for IP security measures, says JPatton Business Development Manager Franco Diaz. The counterfeit guitars, had they been genuine, would have been worth $18.7 million, which would put a sizeable dent in the revenues of the legendary American guitar producer. "Brand owners … [Read more...] about Gibson Guitar Fraud Shows Importance of Brand Protection Technology

Angry Mom Sues Mattel For Porn Link on Wicked Doll Package

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Toymaker Mattel was sued this week by a mother for mistakenly putting a link to a porn site on the packaging for its Wicked line of dolls. The inclusion of the link was clearly an honest error on the part of Mattel, as the link for the Wicked Movie (wickedmovie.com) was very similar to that of the porn site. However, South Carolina mom … [Read more...] about Angry Mom Sues Mattel For Porn Link on Wicked Doll Package

Gibson Issues Cease and Desist Against Trump Guitars

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief US voters liked Donald Trump to elect him as the next president of the United States, but some licensors are not as fond of POTUS 47, thanks to a variety of copyright issues. This time the case involves the 130-year-old Gibson guitar company, which has issued a cease and desist order against Trump Guitars, the company behind a line of … [Read more...] about Gibson Issues Cease and Desist Against Trump Guitars