The Licensing Letter

Nike

Nike Repeats As Top Apparel Brand In Tough Year

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief US shoemaker Nike has done it again, claiming the title of the world's most valuable apparel brand for the seventh year in a row, but the bad news is that virtually all apparel brands faced a major decline in sales and revenue. That's according to the annual Brand Finance Apparel 50 report for 2021, which looks at the industry over the past … [Read more...] about Nike Repeats As Top Apparel Brand In Tough Year

Under Armour Ending Licensing Deal With NFL

Sports clothing and equipment company Under Armour is preparing to end its licensing contract with the National Football League, according to a report in the Financial Times. Under Armour has not officially confirmed the contract termination, but the Financial Times reported this week the deal will end later this year. The company's licensing deal with the NFL allowed the brand … [Read more...] about Under Armour Ending Licensing Deal With NFL

Who’s News: August 2019

Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. Direct contact information is made available through TLL's Licensing Sourcebook Online (subscription required). Netflix appoints Jackie Lee-Joe as … [Read more...] about Who’s News: August 2019

Legal Tracker: Anti-competition & Trademark Registration Edition

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The European Commission slaps Nike with a €12.5 million ($14.14 million) fine for its decade-long violation of an EU law prohibiting "agreements between companies that prevent, restrict, or distort competition" within its 28-country Single Market. The sportswear giant's licensing agreements prevented European licensees from … [Read more...] about Legal Tracker: Anti-competition & Trademark Registration Edition

Who’s News—January 2019

Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. 1/14/2019 Margie Cohn, currently President of DreamWorks Animation Television, takes on the additional role of President of DreamWorks Animation. Cohn … [Read more...] about Who’s News—January 2019

Legal Watch: Sporting Goods & Apparel; Toys & Games

Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. CrossFit and Reebok settle their litigation-related licensing disputes and "look forward to continuing their work together as partners mutually dedicated to improving individual health and fitness globally." In 2010, the companies entered into a 10-yr. licensing and sponsorship agreement where Reebok would act as the title … [Read more...] about Legal Watch: Sporting Goods & Apparel; Toys & Games

Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives

FC Barcelona is ending its 17-year partnership with Nike where it ceded its retail and licensing rights to FCBMerchandising. The football club forms a new company to manage its retail, licensing, and merchandising activity. The newly formed Barça Licensing and Merchandising will take over its rights on July 1 and oversee a $77 million merchandising business spanning three of … [Read more...] about Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives

NFLPA’s Top Players

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Overall, sports is the second-strongest property type we track. Retail sales grew 4.3% in 2016 to reach $15.4 billion, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Collegiate-based brands also enjoyed strong sales in 2016 at 2.5% growth, reaching $3.5 billion in sales. NFL sales, in particular, were up 3.7% in 2016, as … [Read more...] about NFLPA’s Top Players

Roundup: Experiential Initiatives

Live arena production Fast & Furious Live is set to debut on a global tour in January 2018. Produced in partnership with Universal Brand Development, Fast Live Productions, and Live Nation, the show launches in London before racing through 23 other European cities. The two-hour show features cars, locations, and scenes from the film series through state-of-the-art 3D … [Read more...] about Roundup: Experiential Initiatives

To Join, or Not to Join: Amazon’s Retail Takeover

While some brands are embracing the Amazon marketplace, others are waging war against the ecommerce giant. Brands must make a choice: Deal with the black and/or grey markets, or else become part of the white market. Online/ecommerce grew in distribution channel share by three-tenths of a percentage point last year to reach 11.7% of all licensed sales in the U.S./Canada—or … [Read more...] about To Join, or Not to Join: Amazon’s Retail Takeover