By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. The venerable Topps trading card business has agreed to an acquisition offer from Fanatics … the same company that yanked its… . . . read more
Sports Licensing: UFC Partners With Timex For Tough Timepieces
Timex has become the Official Timekeeper of UFC, in a deal that will see the release of exclusive, UFC-branded watches. The deal between Timex and UFC includes a number of components, as the watchmaker will… . . . read more
Collectibles: Panini Scores With Extension of Premier League Contract
The Premier League announced it has granted a multiyear collectibles licensing extension to its partner Panini. The Premier League is, as the name suggests, the top level for football (aka soccer) in the United Kingdom,… . . . read more
Sports Licensing: UEFA Seeking Licensees For Upcoming Football Tournaments
Companies interested in a license for the Union of European Football Associations can complete an RFP submission (Request for Proposals) by Nov. 26. UEFA has announced it is inviting interested parties to make proposals for… . . . read more
Sports Licensing: FIFA Appoints MDR For Licensing In Southeast Asia, China
FIFA has passed the ball to MDR Brand Management to handle its licensing and brand extension programs in Southeast Asia and China. The deal with FIFA—the international governing body of association football—will cover the long-term licensing… . . . read more
Toy Licensing: UNO Teams Up With Nike and Giannis for a Wild Product Collection
Mattel is launching the first-ever collaboration between UNO and Nike, featuring a product line developed in coordination with the 2019-20 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and UNO fan, Giannis Antetokounmpo. “I want every product to… . . . read more
Sports Licensing: NFLPA Launches Accelerator to Help Close Diversity Gap in Licensing
The NFL Players Association has unveiled a new program to address the diversity gap in the licensing industry. The program is a new business accelerator called DRIVEN that is geared toward greater inclusion of diverse… . . . read more
Sports Licensing: Opus and The R&A Collaborate On New Book To Celebrate The 150th Open
Opus and The R&A today announced the planned publication and pre-order release of The Open Opus, which will celebrate the 150th playing of The Open and documents the history of the world’s oldest and most prestigious… . . . read more
EA Games Launches Revolutionary Tech For FIFA 2022
Electronic Arts is celebrating the record-breaking launch of EA SPORTS FIFA 22, which features a revolutionary new gameplay technology that EA has dubbed HyperMotion. The launch comes with what must have been a legendarily expensive launch trailer… . . . read more