The next time you buy a pack of Pokemon cards or the latest Pokemon video game, it will be under the management of Pokemon U.S.A. and not the familiar 4Kids Entertainment moniker. 4Kids Entertainment, a global provider and developer of merchandise to children, has been given the boot, by Pokemon USA, as the exclusive representative for Pokemon products. 4Kids held an eight year exclusive license for merchandising Pokemon related manufactured goods, but will not have their contract renewed. The 4Kids company produced the successful Pokemon television show, which is now in its 8th season. According to Akira Chiba, president of Pokemon USA, We felt it was in the best interest of the Pokemon property for Pokemon USA, Inc., to assume all aspects of licensing. This was a brand management decision. We would like to thank 4Kids for all of its great work over the last eight years in helping to establish Pokemon as one of the leading children’s brands in the world." Reported worldwide sales of all Pokemon related products are in the neighborhood of $15 billion. That’s one heck of a lot of Pokemon cards!
