Copyright (c) 2008 Michael Trigg
Have an idea for a kid's product? Billions of dollars have been generated by hundreds of kids products, otherwise known as Properties. Good examples? Harry Potter, Ninja Turtles, Smurfs, Disney, Telletubbies and on and on. The world of kids is always on the lookout for the next hot property.
Properties can be utilized or arise in a book, a comic book, as an image on a cup or can be the focus of a television program or can be utilized in a television commercial.
The world-wide market for kids products, ie: Intellectual Properties is a multi-billion dollar market and growing every year.
What does a Property consist of? This is where matters become confusing. This will provide an idea of the rights that comprise an Intellectual Property. Or, better still, take a sheet of paper and draw a pizza or a circle. Intellectual property rights are like the pieces of a pizza. Each piece contains a different right. Each one of those sixteen pieces represents a different part of the whole and each one of those pieces can be sold off or licensed, as is more the common practice.
The following are some of the more common categories that are licensed off as part of a Property; publishing, music, board games, electronic games, clothing, television, action figures, plush dolls, remote control toys, play sets, cards, greeting cards, educational products and so on. Licensing fees generated by a popular kids Property could make your head swoon.
A wonderful example of a Property that spun off from a first book is Harry Potter. J K Rowling's Harry Potter is a perfect example of a kid's character that has grown into an Intellectual Property.
If you have an idea for children that you think kids around the world will crave after, get started. The North American licensing and merchandising market totaled sales of over $60 Billion in 2006 and North American kids spent over $200 Billion in the same year.
How to get started you ask? If you have an idea for a character and have limited artistic abilities, hire an illustrator or an art school student to take from your mind and transpose it onto paper. If you enjoy telling stories that kids like, even if your writing abilities are marginal, write them down. The point is - get started. Don't imagine you will be an overnight success if you have an idea for a kids product or Property. But if you believe, stick to it, and remember the world market for kids products is insatiable. It takes hard work, long hours and a lot of money to become and overnight success, however, if you can develop your idea into something kids enjoy or better still want, you are halfway there.
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This article was written by Michael Trigg, CEO of You N Me Productions Corp.,
www.younmeproductions.com, co-developer of Greanwold who can be seen at
www.greanwold.com
