Weekly E-News, Issue #150, February 28, 2006

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MGA Entertainment Marvels at New Deal MGA Entertainment has been given the green light by Marvel Entertainment, Inc.,to create a range of Marvel Superhero products in the die-cast andremote-control vehicle categories. The agreement covers the classic comic booklook of the characters; upcoming Marvel-inspired films, including Ghost Riderand Spider-Man 3; and Marvel?s preschool property, Spider-Man & Friends.Initial products in the RC category will begin hitting retail immediately. USCPG Seeks Partners for Two Properties Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is pursuing apparel licensees for thenew animated television series, The Land Before Time, and the classic bookproperty, ?The Little Engine That Could.? The Land Before Time will air onCartoon Network in 2007 in a combination of 2-D animation and 3-D backgrounds.In September 2005, Philomel books, an imprint of the Penguin Young ReadersGroup, published a new edition of ?The Little Engine That Could,? illustratedby painter Loren Long. The new edition continues to be on The New York TimesBook Review Children?s Best Sellers List. Other categories up for grabsinclude: preschool toys, apparel, accessories, interactive games, collectibles,fine art, home furnishings, health and beauty aids, food and beverages, gifts,stationery products, and wireless communication devices and accessories. Children?s Apparel Network to Support Angelina Ballerina HIT Entertainment is expanding Angelina Ballerina?s dance card, signing onChildren?s Apparel Network for a line of apparel sets and separates due inthird quarter 2006. Currently Children?s Apparel Network serves as apparelpartner for HIT?s Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, and The Wigglesproperties. New Video Series Aimed at Female Anime Fans VIZ Media, LLC, expanded its Shojo Beat imprint with the launch of Shojo BeatHome Video, an anime series aimed at female fans in North America. The firsttitle will be Full Moon, a bittersweet tale of puppy love, tragedy, andaspirations to pop star fame. The first DVD volume of the new series, ?I Wantto Sing,? will contain four episodes (suggested retail, $24.98) and will be onshelves June 27 with future volumes to be released quarterly. A special previewdisk containing the first episode of Full Moon will be included as a freepremium in the June 2006 issue of Shojo Beat magazine on sale May 16. Mighty Fine Extends Reach for Hot Properties Mighty Fine signed several new license deals for Bad Cat, taking the propertyinto the New Zealand, Australian, and UK markets and providing an aggressivepush with mass retailers. Domestic expansion includes deals with MeadWestvacoCorp. for back-to-school stationery; Trends International for posters and wallcalendars; and American Greetings for cards, bags, and wrapping paper forlaunch in the third and fourth quarters. The company also plans to expand itswatch and clocks business with Wal-Mart, eyeing other departments such asaccessories, sleepwear, and apparel. Licensees are being sought for sleepwear,intimates, hosiery, loungewear, knit tops, and bags in both domestic andinternational markets. Mighty Fine also has big plans for French Kitty, securing partnerships with twointernational consulting firms to extend the franchise into new markets. Thecompany tapped Red Star Asia Pte Ltd. to focus on opportunities in GreaterChina and Southeast Asia, while Jane Evans Licensing Consultancy will managethe brand for the UK. WPT Enterprises Raises Licensee Roster WPT Enterprises, Inc., is raising the stakes on its licensing push, adding 14licensees with products due in the U.S. in time for Father?s Day. Among the newpartners: PixelPlay with interactive set-top box TV games; Oakley with pokersunglasses; AMF Billiards with poker tables; Bev Key with aluminum keychain/bottle openers; Die Cast Promotions with die-cast trucks; Head West withdecorative mirrors for bar or game rooms; Imperial Rubber Holdings with arolled, rubber-backed washable poker play mat; Notra Trading with bedding,towels, and housewares; Nostalgia Art with limited-edition artwork; PacificSportswear with wristbands, headbands, and rubber bracelets for charity; SternPinball with pinball machines; Talexia with cell phone charms; and Two DogDesigns with barbecue covers. New Deal Fortifies Apparel Presence for AND 1 AND 1 entered into a long-term apparel licensing agreement with High LifeApparel LLC with first on-shelf presence in late 2006. High Life will handleAND 1 men?s apparel for domestic accounts, as well as key accounts in Canada.The partnership is a multimillion-dollar deal that will enhance AND 1?s appareldivision. Ubisoft Builds Portfolio with New Deals Ubisoft inked a deal with 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., and Mirage Group todevelop and publish Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a video game based on the newCG feature-length film due in early 2007. The company also signed an agreementwith Capcom to distribute Resident Evil 4, Onimusha 3, and Devil May Cry 3:Dante?s Awakening Special Edition video games for the PC, as well as with ShaunWhite, gold medal winner in the Winter Olympics for video games inspired by White?ssnowboarding style. The signature video game is expected in 2007. Ink Is Drying on Towel Deal Ocean Pacific will partner with Franco Manufacturing Co., Inc., to produce andsell beach towels under the ?Op? moniker in the U.S. Advance Group Changes Its Moniker Advance Group, Inc., changed its name to Geneva Watch Group and redesigned itslogo and Website to reflect the historical background of its signatureproducts. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes watches andclocks, including in-house brand Freestyle. The company?s licensed portfolioincludes Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Tommy Bahama, BCBG MaxAzria, Betsey Johnson, Mudd, and XGames. Execs on the Move Betts FitzGerald comes to American Greetings as vice president, outbound licensing,and Lindsay Martinez joins the company as brand manager. Tanya Haider was promotedto senior vice president at Nickelodeon & Viacom International Consumer Products.Geoff Reiss will move into the role of senior vice president, programming, for ESPN OriginalEntertainment,and Rick Alessandri will become senior vice president, consumer products. Overat 20th Century Fox Television, Dan Shapiro was promoted to executive director,licensing, while The Summit Media Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of4Kids Entertainment, Inc., named Lee Ravdin president. Licensing 2006 International Show and Conference Registration IsOpen Save $100 on exhibit hall registration by registering in advance for the mostimportant licensing event of the year taking place June 20 to 22 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. Or save hundreds of dollars on early LicensingUniversity Conference registration. For updates, conference details, up-to-dateexhibitor listings, hotel information, and online registration, visit http://www.licensingshow.com/reg . Upcoming Industry Events International Licensing Industry Merchandisers? Association (LIMA)Licensing Seminars, March 15 and 16 at theWilliams Club in New York City; and March 27 and 28 at the Los Angeles AthleticClub, http://www.licensing.org/ Youth Marketing Mega-Event 2006, March 27-29, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach,CA, http://www.youthmarketingmegaevent.com/ LIMA UK Introduction to Licensing Spring Seminar and LIMA and FriendsSpring Fling, May 25, No. 4 HamiltonPlace, London, http://www.brandlicensingexpo.com/ Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online LICENSE?s License! Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and availablenow online, which will be published on the LICENSE Website ( http://www.licensemag.com /) on a weeklybasis once approved by an editor. Go to http://www.finder.licensemag.com/ to fill out the verification form and submit your licenses granted or availablenow. Highlights from each month?s online submissions will be published inLICENSE magazine. Any questions, contact Alyson Grala at (212) 951-6743 or viae-mail: [email protected] . Become a BellSouth Licensee BellSouth invites all interested licensees to submit proposals to license theBellSouth brands. Licensing opportunities abound in traditionaltelecommunications, as well as nontraditional areas, including broadband andnext-generation applications and products. Tap into BellSouth?s global brandawareness: ? One of the largest telecommunications carriers in the U.S. ? Long history of high-quality service in the U.S. and Latin America ? Bell symbol is one of the most widely recognized icons worldwide ? Strong network of licensees in service and product areas For more information, visit http://www.bellsouthintellectualproperty.com/ or call Jim Reed, managing director, at (404) 249-3772. For more information on licensing news and features, visit LICENSE magazine?sWebsite, http://www.licensemag.com/ .

MGA Entertainment Marvels at New Deal

MGA Entertainment has been given the green light by Marvel Entertainment, Inc.,to create a range of Marvel Superhero products in the die-cast andremote-control vehicle categories. The agreement covers the classic comic booklook of the characters; upcoming Marvel-inspired films, including Ghost Riderand Spider-Man 3; and Marvel?s preschool property, Spider-Man & Friends.Initial products in the RC category will begin hitting retail immediately.

USCPG Seeks Partners for Two Properties

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is pursuing apparel licensees for thenew animated television series, The Land Before Time, and the classic bookproperty, ?The Little Engine That Could.? The Land Before Time will air onCartoon Network in 2007 in a combination of 2-D animation and 3-D backgrounds.In September 2005, Philomel books, an imprint of the Penguin Young ReadersGroup, published a new edition of ?The Little Engine That Could,? illustratedby painter Loren Long. The new edition continues to be on The New York TimesBook Review Children?s Best Sellers List. Other categories up for grabsinclude: preschool toys, apparel, accessories, interactive games, collectibles,fine art, home furnishings, health and beauty aids, food and beverages, gifts,stationery products, and wireless communication devices and accessories.

Children?s Apparel Network to Support Angelina Ballerina

HIT Entertainment is expanding Angelina Ballerina?s dance card, signing onChildren?s Apparel Network for a line of apparel sets and separates due inthird quarter 2006. Currently Children?s Apparel Network serves as apparelpartner for HIT?s Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, and The Wigglesproperties.

New Video Series Aimed at Female Anime Fans

VIZ Media, LLC, expanded its Shojo Beat imprint with the launch of Shojo BeatHome Video, an anime series aimed at female fans in North America. The firsttitle will be Full Moon, a bittersweet tale of puppy love, tragedy, andaspirations to pop star fame. The first DVD volume of the new series, ?I Wantto Sing,? will contain four episodes (suggested retail, $24.98) and will be onshelves June 27 with future volumes to be released quarterly. A special previewdisk containing the first episode of Full Moon will be included as a freepremium in the June 2006 issue of Shojo Beat magazine on sale May 16.

Mighty Fine Extends Reach for Hot Properties

Mighty Fine signed several new license deals for Bad Cat, taking the propertyinto the New Zealand, Australian, and UK markets and providing an aggressivepush with mass retailers. Domestic expansion includes deals with MeadWestvacoCorp. for back-to-school stationery; Trends International for posters and wallcalendars; and American Greetings for cards, bags, and wrapping paper forlaunch in the third and fourth quarters. The company also plans to expand itswatch and clocks business with Wal-Mart, eyeing other departments such asaccessories, sleepwear, and apparel. Licensees are being sought for sleepwear,intimates, hosiery, loungewear, knit tops, and bags in both domestic andinternational markets.

Mighty Fine also has big plans for French Kitty, securing partnerships with twointernational consulting firms to extend the franchise into new markets. Thecompany tapped Red Star Asia Pte Ltd. to focus on opportunities in GreaterChina and Southeast Asia, while Jane Evans Licensing Consultancy will managethe brand for the UK.

WPT Enterprises Raises Licensee Roster

WPT Enterprises, Inc., is raising the stakes on its licensing push, adding 14licensees with products due in the U.S. in time for Father?s Day. Among the newpartners: PixelPlay with interactive set-top box TV games; Oakley with pokersunglasses; AMF Billiards with poker tables; Bev Key with aluminum keychain/bottle openers; Die Cast Promotions with die-cast trucks; Head West withdecorative mirrors for bar or game rooms; Imperial Rubber Holdings with arolled, rubber-backed washable poker play mat; Notra Trading with bedding,towels, and housewares; Nostalgia Art with limited-edition artwork; PacificSportswear with wristbands, headbands, and rubber bracelets for charity; SternPinball with pinball machines; Talexia with cell phone charms; and Two DogDesigns with barbecue covers.

New Deal Fortifies Apparel Presence for AND 1

AND 1 entered into a long-term apparel licensing agreement with High LifeApparel LLC with first on-shelf presence in late 2006. High Life will handleAND 1 men?s apparel for domestic accounts, as well as key accounts in Canada.The partnership is a multimillion-dollar deal that will enhance AND 1?s appareldivision.

Ubisoft Builds Portfolio with New Deals

Ubisoft inked a deal with 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., and Mirage Group todevelop and publish Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a video game based on the newCG feature-length film due in early 2007. The company also signed an agreementwith Capcom to distribute Resident Evil 4, Onimusha 3, and Devil May Cry 3:Dante?s Awakening Special Edition video games for the PC, as well as with ShaunWhite, gold medal winner in the Winter Olympics for video games inspired by White?ssnowboarding style. The signature video game is expected in 2007.

Ink Is Drying on Towel Deal

Ocean Pacific will partner with Franco Manufacturing Co., Inc., to produce andsell beach towels under the ?Op? moniker in the U.S.

Advance Group Changes Its Moniker

Advance Group, Inc., changed its name to Geneva Watch Group and redesigned itslogo and Website to reflect the historical background of its signatureproducts. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes watches andclocks, including in-house brand Freestyle. The company?s licensed portfolioincludes Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Tommy Bahama, BCBG MaxAzria, Betsey Johnson, Mudd, and XGames.

Execs on the Move

Betts FitzGerald comes to American Greetings as vice president, outbound licensing,and Lindsay Martinez joins the company as brand manager. Tanya Haider was promotedto senior vice president at Nickelodeon & Viacom International Consumer Products.Geoff Reiss will move into the role of senior vice president, programming, for ESPN OriginalEntertainment,and Rick Alessandri will become senior vice president, consumer products. Overat 20th Century Fox Television, Dan Shapiro was promoted to executive director,licensing, while The Summit Media Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of4Kids Entertainment, Inc., named Lee Ravdin president.

Licensing 2006 International Show and Conference Registration IsOpen

Save $100 on exhibit hall registration by registering in advance for the mostimportant licensing event of the year taking place

June 20 to 22

at the

Jacob

Javits Convention Center in New York.

Or save hundreds of dollars on early LicensingUniversity Conference registration. For updates, conference details, up-to-dateexhibitor listings, hotel information, and online registration, visit

http://www.licensingshow.com/reg

Upcoming Industry Events

International Licensing Industry Merchandisers? Association (LIMA)Licensing Seminars,

March 15 and 16 at theWilliams Club in New York City; and March 27 and 28 at the Los Angeles AthleticClub,

http://www.licensing.org/

Youth Marketing Mega-Event 2006,

March 27-29, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach,CA,

http://www.youthmarketingmegaevent.com/

LIMA UK Introduction to Licensing Spring Seminar and LIMA and FriendsSpring Fling,

May 25, No. 4 HamiltonPlace, London,

http://www.brandlicensingexpo.com/

Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online

LICENSE?s License! Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and availablenow online, which will be published on the LICENSE Website (

http://www.licensemag.com

/) on a weeklybasis once approved by an editor. Go to

http://www.finder.licensemag.com/

to fill out the verification form and submit your licenses granted or availablenow. Highlights from each month?s online submissions will be published inLICENSE magazine. Any questions, contact Alyson Grala at (212) 951-6743 or viae-mail:

[email protected]

Become a BellSouth Licensee

BellSouth invites all interested licensees to submit proposals to license theBellSouth brands. Licensing opportunities abound in traditionaltelecommunications, as well as nontraditional areas, including broadband andnext-generation applications and products. Tap into BellSouth?s global brandawareness:

? One of the largest telecommunications carriers in the U.S.

? Long history of high-quality service in the U.S. and Latin America

? Bell symbol is one of the most widely recognized icons worldwide

? Strong network of licensees in service and product areas

For more information, visit

http://www.bellsouthintellectualproperty.com/

or call Jim Reed, managing director, at (404) 249-3772.

For more information on licensing news and features, visit LICENSE magazine?sWebsite,

http://www.licensemag.com/