Sports Clearances & Licensing Specialist
Marcom Business Affairs
Job Summary
Marcom is Apple’s Global Marketing Communications group. We oversee Apple’s advertising and marketing to ensure the flawless development and execution of world-class communications.
The role of a Sports Clearances and Licensing Specialist at Apple is to oversee the licensing and clearance of sports content used across Apple’s marketing, at all stages of the creative and production process, to identify rights issues, obtain proper permissions and releases, and provide strategic content options to creative teams.
Key Qualifications
- 7-10 years of relevant experience on a business affairs, or content licensing team at a creative agency, sports league, content production company, or sports-focused brand.
- Deep subject matter expertise and practical experience addressing real-world complexities and nuances of sports licensing/clearances for marketing and advertising use.
- Ability to draw conclusions from working knowledge of issues and risks that impact the area of rights licensing, including copyright and trademark law, union/guild issues, public domain, fair use, defamation, and rights of publicity.
- Ability to identify, with accuracy, the spectrum of rights-managed IP frequently found in live game photography and footage, as well as in original content productions
- Proficiency in analyzing and interpreting complex licensing agreements
- Experience presenting rights and licensing-related topics to client groups and employees
- Extensive, up-to-date knowledge of licensing issues across above-the-line and below-the-line media
- Exceptional organizational , prioritization, and time management skills
- Proactive contributor who can work independently, and collaboratively
- Demonstrated ability to lead multiple complex projects simultaneously
- Demonstrated skills in core areas: concise and clear written and verbal communication, attention to detail, sound judgment, innovative approach to problem-solving
- Expertise in building credibility, rapport, and productive relationships across functions in a large organization
- Self-motivated, flexible, and comfortable navigating rapid change with poise and decorum in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Excellent negotiation skills
- Ability to handle assignments requiring considerable judgment and initiative
Description
- This role is embedded with Apple’s Global Marketing Business Affairs group, and partners with a variety of internal Marketing, Services, Legal, Business, and Product stakeholders.
- Review marketing and advertising materials with internal teams to identify IP, flag issues, and propose the appropriate course of action
- Work with a variety of sports leagues and other third-party entities to secure consent and clear rights when featuring their IP and athletes in marketing and advertising
- Facilitate communication between multiple stakeholders across the organization, providing strategic options to internal teams, and liaising with Legal as needed
- Responsible for maintaining detailed documentation and trackers around clearances and licenses at Apple’s high standards
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s Degree required. JD or MBA is desirable.
