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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: merchandise

merchandise stories: 15 news summaries

 Lizzie Borden's 
 Hometown 
 Museum Wins 
 Rights to Name 

Fall River bed and breakfast keeps accused murderer's brand local

Aug 25, 09 5:32 PM CDT
(Newser) - Lizzie Borden would be so proud. Merchandise bearing her name is now the exclusive property of her hometown Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, Mass., the Boston Globe reports. The B&B prevailed before the US Patent and Trademark Office in securing the rights to the infamous spinster’... More »

MORE ABOUT:
murder • museum • merchandise • Patent and Trademark Office • patent • license

(AP) - A judge has approved a deal that will bring more Michael Jackson merchandise to store shelves. The judge heard from attorneys for Jackson's mother, Katherine, the current administrators of Jackson's estate and a newly appointed attorney for the singer's three young children. The merchandise agreement allows for items such as... More »

MORE ABOUT:
merchandise • judge • Michael Jackson • estate • AEG Live

Jermaine's Tribute Song
to Hit iTunes

'Smile' deal one of
many planned by Jackson estate

Aug 8, 09 4:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - The iTunes store has struck a deal to sell Jermaine Jackson’s rendition of “Smile,” which he performed at his brother’s June memorial service, the Los Angeles Times reports. A judge granted Michael Jackson’s estate permission to sign away "Smile," a Charlie Chaplin song... More »

MORE ABOUT:
iTunes • Apple • merchandise • Michael Jackson • Jermaine Jackson

 April Fools Prank May 
 Pay Off for Star Wars Fans 

Tens of thousands try to order a 'Tauntaun sleeping bag'

Jul 10, 09 7:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - What started as an April Fools joke may turn into a dream come true—almost literally—for Star Wars fans, LA Weekly reports. The Tauntaun sleeping bag seemed just plausible enough that retailer ThinkGeek was bombarded with orders—and raked over the coals when the truth came out. Now Lucasfilm,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
sleep • George Lucas • merchandise • Star Wars • Lucasfilm • nerdiness • Luke Skywalker • geeks • Tauntaun • ThinkGeek • Han Solo • sleeping bag

(Newser) - Trouble in heavy metal land. Ozzy Osbourne is suing Black Sabbath bandmate Tommy Iommi over rights to the band's name—and its lucrative merchandise, reports Rolling Stone. Ozzy says Iommi illegally took ownership of the name when he toured in the 1990s without the original band members. The prince of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • music • merchandise • lawsuit • heavy metal • Ozzy Osbourne • Black Sabbath • name • brand • Tony Iommi

D'oh! Danger Looms Over Simpsons Licensing Deals

With millions at stake, execs try to revitalize interest in show

May 17, 09 5:08 AM CDT
(Newser) - If Fox executives play their cards right, Bart Simpson may finally be able to tell Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny to eat his shorts. The team behind America’s favorite animated family is in a race to further capitalize on The Simpsons' international popularity through merchandising, USA Today reports. But... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • television • merchandise • The Simpsons • Fox • Matt Groening • TV ratings • entertainment industry • 20th Century Fox • Jay-ZTV

Hasbro, Discovery Join
to Launch Kids Channel

Toy maker plans to use kids network to promote merchandise

May 1, 09 12:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - Hasbro and Discovery have struck a deal to revitalize the flagging Discovery Kids Network, the Los Angeles Times reports. Hasbro, manufacturer of Transformers and GI Joe, will buy a 50% stake in Discovery Kids for $300 million. The company plans to emphasize merchandise based on programming on the network, which... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • consumer • merchandise • Transformers • Hasbro • watchdog • Discovery Channel • consumer advocacy

(Newser) - The Casey Anthony murder case has inspired a bevy of profiteers hawking everything from “Caylee Sunshine” dolls to “CASEY ANTHONY=DEATH PENALTY” bumper stickers, the Orlando Sentinel reports. “There’s a long history of people being interested in high-profile murder cases and other people trying to make a... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • crime • merchandise • murder trial • fashion dolls • Casey Anthony • Caylee Anthony • bumper sticker

Beverly Hills High Aims
to Market Its 90210 Image

Clothing, cosmetics may make up school's budget shortfalls

Jan 30, 09 6:38 PM CST
(Newser) - Beverly Hills High School is considering starting lines of clothing and cosmetics in an attempt to capitalize on the glamorous image perpetuated by television’s 90210 series and famous alumni like Angelina Jolie. A smaller population of school-aged children in the neighborhood has sapped the tax base, leaving it with... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Angelina Jolie • high school • brands • merchandise • Beverly Hills • cosmetics • Nicolas Cage • 90210 • apparel

King Family Wants Cut of Obama-King Souvenir Cash

The dream may be passed down, but not the brand

Nov 14, 08 11:41 AM CST
(AP) - The family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is demanding a share of the proceeds from the sudden wave of T-shirts, posters, and other merch pairing the civil rights leader with Barack Obama, the AP reports. Obama may have inherited the dream, but they own the brand, says the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • brands • merchandise • civil rights • Martin Luther King Jr. • civil rights movement

Obama is the New Prada

Shirts, buttons, CDs, stickers—vendors can't keep candidate-themed gear on shelves

Aug 17, 08 12:12 PM CDT
(Newser) - Sidewalk vendors have been quick to capitalize on the newest fashion trend: anything Obama. Putting the candidate's face or logo on merchandise—no matter if the product is related to the campaign—boosts sales tremendously, sellers tell the Boston Globe. Obama's face on an item "just says it's... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • merchandise • Obama 2008 • T shirts • campaign

France's Latest Craze: A Dance or a Brand?

Radicals mumble about commercialization, but the kids love it

Jul 19, 08 7:36 PM CDT
(Newser) - There’s a dance craze gripping France—or is it an unabashed commercial scheme, hawking t-shirts and chewing gum? Either way it’s called Tecktonik, and kids are crazy about it, the Los Angeles Times reports. The mix of hip-hop, techno, and random arm movements is championed by dancers... More »

MORE ABOUT:
France • dance • merchandise • club • Paris • branding • suburbs • Tecktonik • craze

 Retailers Also Have
 Stock in Playoffs 

Having the right merchandise on hand can be a gamble

May 18, 08 2:39 PM CDT
(Newser) - Fans aren't the only ones rooting for particular teams in the NHL and NBA playoffs: Retailers are hedging their bets as well, getting ready to print different shirts and hats depending on games' outcomes. If Pittsburgh clinches the NHL Eastern Conference today, thousands of commemorative garments will hit the stores... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NHL • Pittsburgh Penguins • online retailers • Detroit Red Wings • merchandise • Philadelphia Flyers • Dallas Stars • NHL playoffs

Disney Goes Back to High School

Aug 16, 07 12:44 PM CDT
(Newser) - The sequel to Disney's smash hit 'High School Musical' will air Friday, and with a barrage of merchandise including CDs, DVDs, musical handbags, stationery, bedding, and a board game, the two kids' flicks are expected to rake in $100M for the Mickey Mouse company, reports the LA Times. More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • Disney Channel • children • Mickey Mouse • Disney • merchandise • youth • High School Musical • soundtrack • High School Musical 2 • Zac Efron • movies

CD Sales Drop 20%

Mar 21, 07 11:33 AM CDT
(Newser) - CD sales plunged more than 20% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, and online music sales didn't come close to making up the difference. Closing stores, weak albums, and over a billion songs shared illegally every month combined to deliver the sharpest... More »

MORE ABOUT:
music • music industry • music downloads • compact discs • brands • consumer • CDs • merchandise

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