Estate of Legendary Inventor Leveraging GreenLight's Global Reach to Expand Licensing Activities

LOS ANGELES, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenLight (www.greenlightrights.com), a global media licensing, talent negotiation and rights representation consultancy, today announced that it has been selected to represent the personality rights of Thomas Alva Edison, one of the most prolific inventors of all time. This is the second recent estate signing by GreenLight, following an announcement last month that the company will be representing Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.

GreenLight has been named the exclusive third party licensor to Edison's personality rights and trademarks, including his name, image, likeness, signatures and characterizations for new advertising and promotional opportunities, with certain category exceptions. The Charles Edison Foundation will continue to manage their existing licensing relationships.

GreenLight has been selected to help expand licensing activities globally. Profits generated from licensing activities will go to the Charles Edison Fund, which was started by Thomas Edison's son, Charles, and aims to preserve and enhance the legacy of Edison and promote careers in science and technology.

"Edison is synonymous with innovation - he is an enduring symbol of invention and human progress," said David Reeder, Vice President of GreenLight. "His breakthrough developments in the telecommunications and energy industries as well as media and health care make those sectors likely to license his personality rights for advertising and product activities."

Edison, who lived from 1847 to 1931, holds 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the UK, France and Germany. He is primarily known for inventing the light-bulb and the phonograph, but also developed and produced the first X-ray machines, motion picture cameras and two-way telegraphs.

"Edison represents how new ideas can advance society and fundamentally improve our quality of life," said John Keegan, President of the Charles Edison Fund, a non-profit corporation and beneficiary of Edison's estate. "We are pleased to continue highlighting his extraordinary achievements and the role of science in our world today through our relationship with GreenLight."

Edison is also the father of modern technology and electricity as well as research and development. During his lifetime, he founded 14 companies including multinational giant, General Electric.

With more than 20 years of experience, the GreenLight team represents the estates of iconic entertainers, scientists, inventors and other celebrities including Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Steve McQueen, Albert Einstein and The Wright Brothers. GreenLight licenses personality rights to companies in categories including financial services, automotive, technology, apparel, social expression, health and beauty, home furnishings, and toys for use in advertising, promotions and merchandise.

To learn more about Thomas Alva Edison, please visit his official site at http://www.thomasedison.org.

About GreenLight

GreenLight is a global media licensing, talent negotiation and rights representation consultancy providing corporate, advertising and media clients access to music, film and other entertainment content and celebrities. GreenLight works with the world's leading advertising agencies and multinational companies to create innovative advertising, packaging and products. GreenLight's rights representation group manages the personality rights of iconic personas including Albert Einstein, The Wright Brothers, Steve McQueen and Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. A Corbis brand, GreenLight is based in Los Angeles and serves clients in more than 50 countries. For more information, visit www.greenlightrights.com.

    For more information or images from GreenLight, press only:

    Dan Perlet
    Director, Communications, GreenLight
    +44 (0) 20 7644 7418
    dan.perlet@corbis.com

    Scott Baldwin
    Weber Shandwick for GreenLight
    +1 212 445 8107
    sbaldwin@webershandwick.com

SOURCE GreenLight

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