Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) will develop a comprehensive, 360-degree program for the Men in Black franchise. The new program will include the classic franchise and the studio’s new spin-off which is tentatively set to release next summer.

SPCP’s first wave of licensees include Funko, Titan Publishing, Bioworld, and Changes. SPCP aims to recreate another strong franchise program in support of Men in Black with year-round opportunities for a multi-generational audience. This follows the studio’s recent success with the classic Jumanji franchise and the recent film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

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Scholastic appointed Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) as the official agent for the children’s book series, Goosebumps. There are seven confirmed licensees for the Goosebumps franchise, and the consumer products program is set to rollout with the second film entitled, Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween. SPCP will also represent the licensing efforts for the films. The new film is currently scheduled to release this October.   

New licensees include Scholastic Inc. for movie tie-in books; Changes for adult apparel; Bioworld for apparel, accessories, and desktop items; Mad Engine for apparel and accessories; KJMC Sportswear California for apparel; Philcos Enterpriser for apparel in Canada; and Zinc International Ltd. for in-cinema concession stands.

Global gift designer and supplier Paladone will bring BDP (naturally decomposing plastic) to the global gift trade with a range of giftware using Breakdown Plasti technology.

Breakdown Plastic’s organic additive, BDP, is designed to be used in synthetic polymers to enhance the biodegradation of plastics in landfills, allowing microbes to consume the plastics in a matter of a few years instead of centuries or longer. Paladone products using BDP are home-compostable, naturally decomposable in landfills and recyclable, making them sustainable.

This summer, Paladone will launch a line of licensed egg-cups using this organic additive to address the issues of using synthetic materials which leave harmful imprints on the environment. More items are in development to appeal to the U.S. market, where eco-friendly products are in high demand.

The winners of the 2018 LIMA International Licensing Awards were announced at the opening night of Licensing Expo.

Winners were selected across 21 categories from a total of 132 nominees. The ceremony also honored the lifetime achievements of Hall of Fame inductees Elias Fasja-Cohen, CEO and Founder of Tycoon Enterprises; and Brian Goldner, Chairman and CEO of Hasbro. Ten licensing up-and-comers received Rising Star awards.

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Discovery is launching a merchandising program in celebration of Shark Week’s 30th Anniversary. The program will include a product lineup featuring new apparel, accessories, books, toys, and packaged goods.

The merchandising partners will include co-brands such as Swedish Fish candy by Mondelēz International, Build-a-Bear, and Vineyard Vines, as well as categories of product including food, toys, and tech products. Walmart is the premier Shark Week retailer. Princess Cruises will be transforming Shark Week into a full season with its first-ever Summer of Shark.

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Entertainment One (eOne) adds seven partners to its roster of licensees for PJ Masks.

New partners include ASO LLC for antibacterial shape and strip bandages; Colgate-Palmolive for oral care, including battery-operated toothbrushes, manual toothbrushes, and toothpaste; DecoPac for edible photo cake and cookie decorations in the U.S. and Canada; Give & Go for baked goods featuring house-assembly and cookie-decorating kits; good2grow for 100-percent juice beverages in containers with character toppers; Pez Candy for character candy dispensers with candy; and Thermos for stainless steel vacuum insulated “FUNtainer” bottles and food jars.

Cartoon Network Enterprises will grow its portfolio of licensing programs for many of its popular brands. Products will be introduced from new and expanding licensing partners for Ben 10, We Bare Bears, Steven Universe ,and other Cartoon Network brands. The properties will be showcased at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas this week.

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According to results from the Annual Global Licensing Industry Survey released by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA), retail and related revenue generated globally by the trademark licensing business in 2017 rose 3.3percent to US$271.6B. Royalty revenue from sales of licensed merchandise and services rose 2.6 percent to $14.5 billion.

Entertainment/character licensing remains the largest industry category, accounting for $121.5 billion, or 44.7 percent of the total global licensing market. Corporate/brand trademarks was the next biggest property type, generating US$55.8 billion in retail receipts for 20.5 percent of total revenues, followed by fashion with $32.1 billion and sports with $26.5 billion. Some of the most significant growth came from property types that play somewhat smaller roles in the overall business, including publishing-based properties and art licensing. In addition, the music and celebrity categories saw growth reflective of the “influencers” effect. Read the rest of this entry »

Cyanide & Happiness and its management company, Studio71, selected Brand Central LLC to bring the brand into the consumer products category.

Since its start in 2004, Cyanide & Happiness has grown into an internationally recognized brand, built through crowdfunding support. Since then, Cyanide & Happiness released three seasons of The Cyanide & Happiness Show, more than two hundred weekly webcomics on its YouTube channel, five books in more than five languages, and four card game expansions.

Epic Games, the game developer and publisher of the popular Fortnite game franchise, selected IMG to be its exclusive worldwide agency for consumer products licensing and promotions.