I’m trying to figure out how to value a unique license opportunity. The license would let me create and sell merchandise, games, or even fiction related to the original Star Trek series, but I wouldn’t be allowed to reference the characters. It’s strictly limited to the early Star Trek universe (Kirk/Spock era).
The terms seem flexible, allowing for alternate universes, new characters, or stories about the Federation, Klingons, or Romulans, but nothing tied to actual characters. It could involve products like fiction, games, and even video games, but video production might not be viable due to past legal issues like Axanar.
I know cash flow forecasting is one method for valuation, but I have no clue what sales could look like, and it seems impossible to predict. That makes any financial model feel unreliable.
I’ve tried researching this on forums and found a few cases:
Licensing for sports merchandise suggests $40k–$100k in guaranteed royalty payments plus insurance.
College sports licensing might go for about $20k.
Fan-made items often involve vague rules around what IP holders will allow.
If anyone has experience with licensing, insights on this kind of niche opportunity, or just thinks it’s an interesting topic, please share your thoughts. I’d appreciate tips, examples, or advice!
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How do you see this working as a business? To me, it sounds more like something that could start as a hobby and grow into a niche within the Star Trek fan community. Some fanfictions have successfully built their own followings, but I’m not sure this has the commercial potential to predict cash flow.
While Star Trek has a huge fan base, most of the value seems tied to its iconic characters and ships. Without those, how would you create something that stands out enough to sell?
I think it depends on how creative you can get with the alternate universes and characters. Fans might be interested in stories that expand the lore in new ways, even without the big-name characters. It’s not impossible, but it’d take a lot of effort to market and build interest.
That’s a good point. It does seem like it would take a lot of creativity and some serious marketing to make it appealing to fans. I wonder if there are examples of fan-made projects that managed to do this and still stayed within legal licensing boundaries?
There’s potential here, but you’d have to lean heavily into creating something fresh that feels connected to the Star Trek universe but also unique. Maybe focus on the political side of the Federation or how the Klingon Empire operates? Fans might appreciate a deeper dive into parts of the lore that don’t get much attention in the shows.