PROPERTY TYPES & PRODUCT CATEGORIES

PROPERTY TYPES

Licensed properties are classified according to their origins. For example, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sprang to life as a comic book, so for our purposes this property is classified under publishing. However, some properties cross over into several categories, as with Batman.

Batman's origins are as a publishing property, since he was originally a comic book character. But distinctive licensing programs were created for the first 1989 film and its sequels, so the sales directly related to the logos and images from the films would be classified under entertainment/character licensing, while the "classic" property would fall under publishing.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, and classifying some properties is simply a judgement call.

Use the following listings as guidelines to help you to understand the categorization process more fully.

Art: Erte prints, fine art (museum replicas), greeting card and calendar designs, Mary Engelbreit artwork, Norman Rockwell prints, Precious Moments

Entertainment/Character: Betty Boop, Disney characters, Flintstones, Garfield, Looney Tunes, Muppets, Pink Panther, Rocky & Bullwinkle, theatrical motion pictures, TV series and specials, World Wrestling Entertainment

Celebrities/Estates: Abbott & Costello, Alfred Hitchcock, Amelia Earhart, Fred Astaire, Harrison Ford, Humphrey Bogart, Jackie Robinson, James Dean, Kathie Lee Gifford, Marilyn Monroe, Mel Gibson, Sandra Bullock, Winston Churchill

Fashion: Bill Blass, Halston, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Ralph Lauren

Music: The Beatles, Britney Spears, KISS, The Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna

Non-Profit: American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, CARE, National Wildlife Federation, Save The Children, Unicef

Publishing: Babysitters Club, Harry Potter, Popular Mechanics, Sports Illustrated, Elle, Berenstain Bears, Babar, Peanuts, Dilbert

Sports: National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, NCAA, Major League Soccer, Players Inc., Michael Jordan, Olympics, World Cup

Trademarks/Brands: Harley-Davidson, Pillsbury Doughboy, Campbell Soups, Crayola, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Hershey, Snackwell

Toys/Games: Monopoly, Slinky, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Sonic The Hedgehog, Mario, Magic 8-Ball, Colorforms, Matchbox, Etch-A-Sketch, Pokémon

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

Product categories refer to the merchandise that is created based on licensed properties. These specific categories are based on the predominant way in which merchandise is classified by retailers.

Many products could fall within more than one classification. For example, plush could be considered either toys or gifts/novelties, or clocks could be housewares or gifts/novelties or electronics, depending on such factors as distribution channels.

One word of caution: Early in their licensing careers, many people confuse, say, "fashion" as a property type (e.g. Calvin Klein) with "apparel" as a product category (Jem Sportswear, as a manufacturer of apparel under brand names or using images or logos it has licensed).

The following list isn't all-inclusive, but should be used as a guideline.

Accessories: Backpacks, belts, buckles, eyeglass frames, gloves, handbags, hats and caps, hosiery, jewelry, neckties, scarves, sunglasses, suspenders, umbrellas, wallets, watches

Apparel: Beach wear, boxer shorts, dresses, fleece, jackets, jeans, sportswear, suits, sweaters, T-shirts

Domestics: Bedding, blankets, fabrics, pot holders, placemats, table linen, towels, wallcoverings

Electronics: Cassette players, boom boxes, handheld electronic games, personal stereos, telephones

Food/Beverage: Candy, cereal, condiments, cookies, frozen meals, ice cream, juice, snacks, soft drinks

Footwear: Sandals, shoes, slippers, sneakers, thongs

Furniture/Home Furnishings: Beanbag chairs, beds, bookcases, ceiling fans, chairs, tables, lamps

Gifts/Novelties: Air fresheners, animation cels, banks, boxes, candles, collectibles, character clocks, Christmas ornaments and decorations, commemorative coins and plates, key chains, figurines, lighters, magnets, night lights, pencil toppers, pens, travel accessories, wind socks

Health/Beauty: Adhesive bandages, bathing accessories, bubble bath, combs and brushes, cosmetics, fragrances, shampoos, soaps, tissues, vitamins

Housewares: Appliances, bath mats, bowls, canisters, carving sets, clocks, cookie jars, cups, desktop accessories, glassware, lunchboxes, picture frames, plates, silverware, water bottles

Infant Products: Baby bottles, bassinets, infant clothing, infant bedding, infant toys

Music/Video: Books-on-tape, cassettes, CDs, prerecorded videos

Publishing: Books, activity books, calendars, checks, comic books, magazines, posters, talking story books, novelizations and adaptations, trading cards

Sporting Goods: Backpacks, balls, bicycles, ice skates, inflatable water toys, skate boards, snow boards, slumber bags, sports equipment, vinyl pools and water slides

Stationery/Paper: Address books, balloons, bookmarks, diaries, gift wrap, greeting cards, invitations, pads, party goods, rubber stamps, stationery, stickers

Toys/Games: Action figures, activity sets, arts & crafts sets, beach toys, board games, card games, hobby sets and supplies, die-cast toys, dolls and accessories, models, plush, puzzles, rack toys, radio controlled toys, ride-ons

Videogames/Software: Videogames (cartridge & CD-ROM), computer games (CD-based, disc-based and on-line), educational software, productivity software, reference software, screen savers, utilities