Recognized as a symbol of quality, authenticity and prestige, the Smithsonian Institution has been an American icon for more than 150 years.

In order to capitalize on the outreach and revenue potential of the Smithsonian brand, the Office of Product Development and Licensing was established in 1985. By contracting and collaborating with manufacturers and marketers (licensees), this office identifies objects and/or themes within the Smithsonian collections, translating them into highly marketable products that generate revenue for the licensee and the Institution.

The mission of Smithsonian licensing is to generate revenue as well as increase the public awareness of the Institution’s collections and activities. Products licensed by this office are defined by their marketability, quality, value, relationship to the collections, and the ability to serve the Institution’s mission for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge." At the same time, Product Development and Licensing collaborates with licensees to ensure that products derived from the various Smithsonian holdings are marketed in a manner that reinforces the prestige and standards of the Institution.

Successful licensing programs consist of more than a contractual agreement, they require highly collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships between companies or institutions with similar goals.

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