Posts in Thought Leadership
Toys "R"​ Us is Coming Back Along with Geoffrey and the Jingle!

February 26, 2019 | By: Michael Stone, Chairman & Co-founder, Beanstalk

It looks like Toys "R" Us is rising from the dead already, as many speculated would happen. Rebranding as Tru Kids Brands, the investors who currently own TRU are weighing the possibility of opening freestanding stores and smaller shops within larger stores, with the goal of relaunching the brand by the holiday season of 2019.

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A Proust Questionnaire for Personality Brands: Mahatma Gandhi

New York, NY, January 24, 2019 | By: Martin Cribbs

Most celebrities aren't brands. Legendary icons are. In this month’s Proust Questionnaire for Personality Brands, we're focusing on Mahatma Gandhi this month. Martin Cribbs, Vice President of Icon Representation at Beanstalk, discusses representing the Mahatma Gandhi estate and his legacy today.

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Dead Or Alive? Bringing Brands Back To Life

New York, NY, January 14, 2019 | By: Michael Stone, Chairman and Co-founder, Beanstalk

We can all remember brands we loved (or not) that have disappeared. Frequently they are household name brands to which we became emotionally attached—brands to which we were loyal and for which we still have positive associations, brands we trusted. Under the right circumstances, licensing can resurrect these brands

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Bandersnatch's Legal Adventure

New York, NY, January 14, 2019 | By: Oliver Herzfeld

The publisher of the popular Choose Your Own Adventure series of books, Choosco LLC, has commenced a lawsuit against Netflix. Essentially, Choosco claims Netflix’s new film "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" infringes several of Choosco’s trademarks that include the words "Choose Your Own Adventure".

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Brand Licensing’s Rising Value In The Digital Age

New York, NY, December 20, 2018 | By: Michael Stone, Co-founder and Chairman, Beanstalk

Brand licensing is one of the most powerful ways to make the most out of an already strong brand because of its ability to extend brands to products outside the brand’s core business, reach new and existing consumer segments at new touch points and support and communicate brand equities

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A Proust Questionnaire for Personality Brands: Farrah Fawcett

New York, NY, Oct. 11, 2018 | By: Martin Cribbs - Most celebrities aren’t brands.  Legendary icons are. This month we’re focusing on Farrah Fawcett and spoke to Alana Stewart, an actress, model, and the President and CEO for our client, the Farrah Fawcett Foundation.  Ms. Stewart was one of Farrah’s closest friends and answered this month’s questionnaire.

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A Proust Questionnaire for Personality Brands: Harvey Milk

In a famous episode of HBO’s hit series Entourage, the main character Vincent Chase goes from talent agency to talent agency, with each firm promising to make him a “brand.” Unbeknownst to each agency Chase visits, every pitch is presented as an original, brilliant, never-been-done-before idea.

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'Blurred Lines' Decisions Offer Lessons For Advertising Agencies Using Sound-Alikes

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently upheld the district court's decision finding Robin Thicke’s and Pharrell Williams’ chart-topping 2013 hit "Blurred Lines" infringed the copyright on Marvin Gaye's song "Got To Give It Up." The Ninth Circuit also upheld the district court’s award of more than $3 million in actual damages, $5 million in infringer’s profits and a continuing royalty of 50% of future songwriter and publishing revenues generated from the song.

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Cabbage Patch Kids Provide A Wake-Up Call On License Contracts

When trademark licensors grant a licensee exclusive rights to manufacture and sell licensed products, they often reserve the right to engage in negotiations with one or more potential replacement licensees during a certain period of time before the conclusion of the exclusive license agreement.

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Forbes: Thelonious Monk and the Perils of Oral Agreements

October 19, 2017 | By Oliver Herzfeld | An old quip that is widely misattributed to the famous movie producer Samuel Goldwyn states “a verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on.” The truth is, with only a few exceptions, oral agreements are legal, valid and binding. However, oral agreements present other difficulties and challenges apart from enforceability. A lawsuit recently commenced by the Estate of Thelonious Monk against North Coast Brewing Co. provides an excellent opportunity to explore some of the issues raised by oral agreements.

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