How do you find out the process for getting permission to make and sell products on a small scale with image from TV or movies?

How do you find out the process for getting permission to make and sell products on a small scale with image from TV or movies?
You would first find out who owns the rights to the images, usually found at the end credits of a movie or TV show as 2009 SomeEntertainmentCompany.We'll use MGM for an example here.You can then do a search for a website to get some licensing and contact info. The keywords might be something like 'MGM + licensing', which will give you their licensing site: http://www.mgmlicensing.com/home.aspx.You will have to do a lot of reading to find out their exact procedures. Every company is always slightly different.They will want to see your product, first off. Sometimes you can just email detailed photos, sometimes they want an in-person presentation. Keep in mind that, depending on the industry you are presenting to, your product must be appropriate. For instance, most companies will not lend their name or brand to cigarettes, alcohol, condoms, sex toys, etc.. You get the picture.You will have had to do some solid number-crunching, which, if you wrote a business plan to get a business loan from a bank, most of this will be done already (yearly projections on profit, etc.) You want them to believe that this will sell like hot cakes!Be prepared to disclose factory locations, and have factories fill out disclosures. If the factories are overseas, you may have to join the FLA (Fair Labor Association), and have your factories comply with their guidelines. You may have to obtain insurance (in case someone hurts themselves with your product; they will sue you, not MGM.)Pay an advance royalty to MGM, or just a licensing fee. You will then pay them royalties based on sales.Beware though, you may have to guarantee a certain amount of sales per quarter to obtain the license. If you don't make the sales, you will still have to pay!Like I said before, every company/industry differs in their procedures and requirements. Let them tell you what you need to do in order to obtain the licensing before you take any unnecessary steps.Once you are licensed with one entertainment company, it will be easier to obtain other licenses. If you are successful with one, don't be afraid to add your successful numbers in to your next presentation.Hope this helped!