Case Studies

IP Underpins Cannabis Business Value and Fuels Growth Opportunities   As cannabis becomes legal across the US and other countries, the black or gray markets of the past begin to fade away. However, cannabis remains a commodity. This in turn presents a unique opportunity for businesses to differentiate themselves through their IP. This commoditization of […]

Background   CONSOR was retained on behalf of Chevron Corporation to provide an opinion regarding the value of the Chevron, Texaco, Havoline, URSA, and other trademarks (collectively the “Chevron Trademarks”) that had been subject to an embargo order in Ecuador. The Chevron Trademarks were being used in Ecuador for the sale of automotive and other […]

During the trial in which Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) sued the website Gawker over the now infamous sex tape, a valuation expert testified about the amount of damages. But it was not a question of damages over the right of publicity but rather one of unjust enrichment—that is, the gain in value of the Gawker […]

The value and valuation of music libraries and copyrights, celebrity images and rights of publicity, and trademarks and brand names for musical groups, are all part of our practice area. And the issues of value for these assets, both when doing a deal and in litigation have become increasingly important. Establishing Value And Damages When […]

Several months after Marlon Brando’s death in the summer of 2004, counsel and executors for his estate sought advice on publicity rights – whether they had value, and, if so, what was the residual value (if any) of the publicity rights of Marlon Brando upon his passing. In the case of individuals, where publicity rights […]

Divorce. The very word sends shivers down the spines of all parties involved. The spouses, the lawyers, the accountants, the finders of fact. Emotional, expensive, time consuming, and often acrimonious, divorce can be a major part of a general practitioner’s work. Now, add to that divorce environment a new element — the newness and uncertainty […]

Service Merchandise had been a leader in retail and direct response consumer goods sales for a number of years. In fact at one time they were perceived as a threat to what was then the world’s largest retailer, Sears Roebuck and Company. Obviously, times have changed dramatically. The demise of Service Merchandise is a result […]

Throughout this handbook, we have often referred to the effects of time and context on the value of both intellectual property and intangible assets. It is useful to talk about other potential impacts on value; and, nothing illustrates the principal that management can impact value better than this brief case study involving a small but […]

In the 2001-2002 Montgomery Ward wind-down, the key to extracting maximum value was to engage in the identification and triage process. Thorough research and identification of all of the company’s intangibles was needed; originally, management at Montgomery Ward felt that the corporate name and trademark was the only meaningful asset bundle. The identification, bundling and […]

This case study provides an excellent and objective lesson on how to build a company’s value by extending and leveraging its intangible assets. Jenny Craig was preparing for a near term sale or acquisition of its assets by one or more interested parties – to be determined in an open call for bids on the […]