Ways Celebrities Capitalize on Brands

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Celebrities typically become well-known for their skills. For instance, many actors such as Julia Roberts, Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Meryl Streep are famous for their abilities to play diversified roles. Singers such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Justin Timberlake sell out concerts because they give great performances and many people like their songs. Tom Brady, LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Tiger Woods garner attention because they are among the best in their sports. As long as their skills remain strong and in demand, they continue to capitalize on their brands.

While honing a skill and performing at high levels protects celebrities and their brands, making them more valuable, publicity helps to maintain that value and keep celebrities in demand. The more celebrities are exposed, the more they are remembered and the more the public associates with them. While newer talent and age may play a factor in how long or how well celebrities can maintain their brand value, celebrities often use other methods than the skills that made them famous in the first place to keep their brand valuable.

For instance, many celebrities launch clothing lines that help to keep their brand thriving. Such lines include Fabletics by Kate Hudson, Ivy Park by Beyonce, SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker, Goop Label by Gwyneth Paltrow, Paper Crown by Lauren Conrad, and many others. Some celebrities launch their own perfumes. Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Sean Combs, Derek Jeter, and David Beckham are just a few who market their own scents. The number of type of products celebrities launch is large. Other items may include purses, handbags, makeup lines, and so much more. In addition to their own lines, celebrities endorse a plethora of products including athletic gear, credit cards, medication, technology, and endless other products.

Although endorsing and launching products is another big avenue that can keep a brand alive, some celebrities also tap into new territory to keep their image public. For instance, many famous singers and athletes have dabbled with acting. They include Lady Gaga, Tim McGraw, Brett Favre, Christina Aguilera, Shaun White, and numerous others. Partnering with charities is also another way celebrities can benefit.

As you can see, developing, maintaining, and enhancing a celebrity brand can take a tremendous amount of time, work, experience, practice, and even stepping out of a comfort zone. However, the more a celebrity remains in the spotlight, the more important that brand becomes.

The Licensing Executives Society: A Voice for the IP Community

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Founded in 1965, the Licensing Executives Society (LES) is an organization that supports, represents, and connects nearly 3,000 IP, business, and technology licensing professionals. LES provides members with best practices, education, mentoring, networking, and participation. Membership benefits are many and include chapter events, access to the LES directory, industry connections, social media channels, industry publications, certified licensing professional (CLP) certification, CLP preparation courses, free education, career center advantages, and registration discounts.

At Pellegrino & Associates, we are a big proponent of this organization and all that it offers the IP industry. This is why we are so actively involved. Our company president Mike Pellegrino is currently treasurer of LES. He is also the chair of the patent valuation standards committee established by LES, whose charter is to pursue American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accepted standards for the valuation of patents in a variety of contexts including financial reporting, capital formation, economic damages calculations, and others. Mike is also a member of LES’s public policy committee, seeking to help set standards for intellectual property-focused regulatory matters with the SEC and others. He is also a member of LES’s standards committee for IP use in the boardroom.

While our expertise within the organization is on IP valuation, LES strives to find standards for many IP areas. These areas include the following: ISO/TC 279 innovation management, IP protection in the supply chain, FRAND licensing, IP licensing, IP management for startups, intangible assets in the boardroom, IP valuation, and IP brokerage.

Working together with IP professionals around the world, LES represents one voice for the IP management community. It supports a variety of organizations including corporations, law firms, consultant/service providers, universities/government, entrepreneurs, and students in various industries such as life sciences, high technology, consumer products, and others. We are proud to be a part of and to support this prestigious organization. To learn more, visit the LES website at https://www.lesusacanada.org/. Also, be sure to check out the Events section to learn about the annual LES meeting.