Master licensors vs. regional agents vs. sub-agents

Rights often pass through layers before reaching you. A master licensor controls the rights globally or for a large region, a regional agent represents them in a territory, and a sub-agent may cover a smaller market or specific category.

Master licensor — The company holding the core rights to grant, often a committee's overseas window or a major rights company. It sets the overall brand strategy and final approvals.
Regional agent — Appointed by the master licensor to represent the property in a territory, such as North America or Europe. It finds licensees, negotiates, and manages approvals locally, typically earning a commission. Some regional players instead hold a master license, meaning they can sublicense in their own name.
Sub-agent — Appointed by a regional agent to cover a narrower area, like a single country or category.

Each layer can add local knowledge and faster communication, but it also adds people to the approval chain. When you're approached by, or approach, an intermediary, ask politely which rights it represents, for which territories and categories, and on whose authority. A legitimate agent can usually explain this clearly. AniBiz can help you verify who represents a title in your region.