Licensing generally

Hello from Germany,

because on different threads there's always the issue of 'licensing', let me tell you about news from Brussels ( EU headquarter ).
During this year the EU will discuss the legitimacy of licensing generally.
Reason for this are the excessive license fees, which car manufacturers charge from toy manufacturers.
The council will discuss whether it shouldn't be like in former times, when the toy manufacturer had to describe his toy or modelcar as a toy, which has NOT the same origin like the original. Probably they will decide pro-industry, what would mean, that the designation of being a toy not produced by the 1:1 manufacturer will be sufficient, but license fees may become unlawful.
This MAY - I don't know, but guess - be a reason why the licensing contract between Ferrari and Mattel will end shortly.

Best Regards from Germany

Martin