IP State of the Union Part 2: Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions

IP Goes Pop

In this second installment of "IP State of the Union: Billion-Dollar Character Acquisitions," IP Goes Pop!® co-hosts Michael Snyder and Joseph Gushue explore goodwill—the invisible yet invaluable asset fueling iconic franchises. They break down how studios leverage brand loyalty and cultural impact when acquiring legendary IP, where the goal extends beyond box office numbers to long-term equity through merchandise, theme parks, and fan engagement.

The hosts analyze three major franchises: Star Wars (examining whether George Lucas's goodwill continues to pay dividends as Disney shifts toward streaming), the DC Universe (discussing Warner Bros.' struggles despite owning Superman and Batman, and James Gunn's new vision), and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (questioning whether public controversies and mixed expansions threaten the brand, and if HBO's upcoming reboot will revitalize or alienate the fanbase).

Whether you're a casual moviegoer or die-hard fan, this episode transforms how you view the business of pop culture.

For full show notes and to explore more episodes, please visit www.vklaw.com/newsroom-podcasts.

Key Moments:

(00:34) Episode Overview

• Part 1 of IP State of the Union - Billion Dollar Character Acquisitions

(02:38) Defining Goodwill or Goodwill in Intellectual Property

(06:13) Debut and Early Days of the Star Wars Franchise

(14:07) Disney's handling of the Star Wars franchise

(18:26) DC Universe and Warner Brothers

(29:38) The Harry Potter Universe and Challenges to Goodwill

(37:05) Final thoughts on managing IP franchises

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