Character merchandising licensing agreements

Document Type

Book Section

Publication Date

8-2025

ISBN

9781839108730

DOI

10.4337/9781839108747

Abstract

This chapter explores character merchandising licensing, a practice where intellectual property rights holders, such as creators and companies, authorize the use of popular characters on various consumer products. The chapter examines the legal foundations of character merchandising, including the role of copyrights, trademarks, and related intellectual property laws. It discusses how contracts are negotiated and enforced, highlighting key provisions like exclusivity, territorial limitations, quality control, and royalty payments. The chapter also provides case studies of famous characters like Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter, Hello Kitty, and Betty Boop to illustrate the practice's commercial success and the legal challenges involved. Finally, it addresses significant litigation cases that have shaped the legal landscape of character merchandising, offering insights into the complexities and risks of this lucrative licensing strategy.

First Page

337

Last Page

369

Num Pages

33

Series

Research Handbooks in Intellectual Property series

Publisher

Edward Elgar Publishing

Editor

Jacques de Werra & Irene Calboli

Book Title

Research Handbook on Intellectual Property Licensing

Edition

2d

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