Tove Jansson heirs won’t renew Moomin product licenses in Russia
Source: Meduza
Moomin Characters, the Finnish branded goods company run by the heirs of the popular artist and writer Tove Jansson, has declined to renew or extend Moomin product licenses for partners in Russia.
Moomin-themed porcelain mugs and other Moomin paraphernalia are among Finland’s key export goods. Russia has been a receptive market for the Moomin industry, due to the immense popularity of Jansson’s work with generations of Russian children.
Last week, Moomin Spring Festival, a children’s event slated to take place this spring in Moscow, had to be canceled because of licensing problems.
Russia’s entertainment and publishing industries are coping with similar crises, due to losing licensing rights for content produced in the West.
