RCA (trademark)

At present, the RCA trademark is owned by Talisman Brands, Inc. (d/b/a Established.) since 2022,{{cite news |title=Technicolor: Closing of the Sale of Trademark Licensing operations |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/05/31/2453618/0/en/Technicolor-Closing-of-the-Sale-of-Trademark-Licensing-operations.html |access-date= 31 May 2022 |work=Chicago Tribune}} Though it generally no longer uses the brand directly, Talisman Brands licenses the RCA trademark to other companies for use on various products along 10 different product lines:

• RCA Records (RCA Victor): now licensed to Sony Music Entertainment, which acquired the record label through their former joint venture Sony BMG (2004–08). In 1987, BMG purchased RCA Records and several subsidiary and associated record labels directly from GE following the acquisition of the RCA Corporation, together with a perpetual license to use the various RCA brands and trademarks (including RCA's interest in the famous Nipper His Master's Voice trademark). As a perpetual license, it has survived both GE's sale of the brand name to Thomson and BMG's transfer of RCA Records and associated labels to Sony BMG and Sony Music.
• RCA Commercial Electronics: licensed to DTI Services, LLC - an Indianapolis, Indiana based company. They manufacture commercial televisions and commercial LED lighting, acquiring the trademark in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/43618-rca-brand-lives-on-sans-nipper-and-chipper/ |title=RCA brand lives on, sans Nipper and Chipper |date=19 September 2013 |publisher=Indianapolis Business Journal}}
• RCA Monitors: licensed to DTI Services, LLC - an Indianapolis, Indiana based company. They attained the license in 2023, and released their first products on September 31, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.rcamonitors.com/ |title=RCA Monitors |access-date=2023-10-31}}{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rca-launches-products-first-ever-130000270.html |title=RCA Launches Products in First-Ever Gaming Monitor Line |date=31 October 2023 |publisher=finance.yahoo.com |access-date=2023-10-31}}
• RCA Telephones: Formerly manufactured by Thomson SA, sold in 2009 to Telefield North America{{cite web|url=https://www.rca4business.com/contact/ |title=Contact Us | Telefield |publisher=rca4business.com |access-date=2013-10-18}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL512581620081105 |title=UPDATE 1-Thomson to shut North American retail telephone unit |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-11-05 |access-date=2013-10-18}}
• RCA Audio/Video: Manufactured by Voxx, produces RCA DVD players, video cassette recorders, direct broadcast satellite decoders, camcorders, and audio equipment. (link on Voxx website)
• RCA Accessories: Manufactured by Voxx, produces Audio and video connectors, remote controls, keyboards, Computer mice and television antennas.
• RCA Televisions: Manufactured by Curtis International Ltd. (Canada) (Was ON Corporation){{cite web|url=http://tv.rca.com/company/corporate_information.asp |title=RCA Television |publisher=Tv.rca.com |date=2009-06-01 |access-date=2013-10-18}}
• RCA Car Stereo: Also known as RCA Mobile
• RCA Appliances: Produces RCA brand Microwaves, refrigerators, and ranges marketed by Curtis International Ltd. (Canada){{cite web|url=https://www.rcamicrowaves.com/contact-us |title=Contact Us |date=6 May 2016 |publisher=RCA Microwaves |access-date=2017-02-24}}
• RCA Computers: Produces RCA Computers marketed by American Future Technology Corporation{{cite web|url=http://www.rcacomputer.com/ |title=RCA Laptop |publisher=Rcacomputer.com |access-date=2013-10-18}}
• RCA Computer Tablets: RCA tablets manufactured by Alco Electronics Ltd.{{cite web|url=https://phys.org/news/2016-06-alco-electronics-david-leung-gadgets.html |title=Alco Electronics' David Leung on making gadgets in China |date=26 June 2016 |website=phys.org |access-date=2018-10-28}}
• RCA Projectors: Manufactured by Telefield
• RCA Digital TV Box: Produces RCA Set-top Boxes marketed by Search Commercial Inc. (Philippines).{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltvbox.com.ph |title=RCA Digital TV Box |access-date=2018-10-28}}
• RCA Communication Systems: Two-way radios[https://www.rcacommunicationssystems.com/our-history/ RCA Communication Systems]

BMG (for the record labels) and Thomson (for the remaining businesses) bought those assets from General Electric, which took over the RCA Corporation in 1986 and kept RCA's NBC broadcast television interests (GE sold off the NBC Radio Network and the NBC-owned radio stations). Initially, GE retained ownership of the RCA trademarks (including the His Master's Voice/Nipper and Victor/Victrola trademarks for several years, which were then licensed to Thomson and Bertelsmann Music Group. Thomson eventually purchased the rights to the RCA trademarks from GE in 2003{{cite web|url=http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=H&trademark=852437 |title=Intellectual Property Office - Our trade mark enquiry service has moved |publisher=Ipo.gov.uk |date=2013-02-09 |access-date=2013-10-18}} subject to the perpetual license GE had issued to BMG.

In December 2006, Thomson SA agreed to sell its consumer electronics accessory business, including rights to use the RCA name for consumer electronic accessories, to Audiovox{{cite web|url=https://theretailbridge.com/posts/view/?instance_id=10 |title=Audiovox to Acquire Thomson's Consumer Electronics Accessory Business |date=22 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526151411/http://www.theretailbridge.com/posts/view/?instance_id=10 |archive-date=May 26, 2008 }}

On October 16, 2007, Thomson SA agreed to sell its consumer electronics audio video business outside Europe including the worldwide rights to the RCA Brand for consumer electronics audio video products{{cite web|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=91378&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1063633&highlight= |title=Audiovox to Acquire Thomson's Consumer Electronics Audio Video Business outside Europe Including the Worldwide Rights to the RCA Brand for Consumer Electronics Audio Video Products |website=Phx.corporate-ir.net |date=2007-02-28 |access-date=2013-10-18}}

In April 2010, ON Corporation took over distribution of RCA branded TVs.{{cite web|url=http://www.rca4tv.com/contact/contact_us.asp?id=tv&page=tv |title=RCA Television |publisher=Rca4tv.com |access-date=2013-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116005844/http://www.rca4tv.com/contact/contact_us.asp?id=tv&page=tv |archive-date=2016-11-16}}

Bertelsmann AG was new to the RCA family (though the creation of Sony BMG is similar to that of EMI more than 70 years earlier). Sony took full ownership of Sony BMG in 2008 and the record company was renamed Sony Music. Thomson started as the French subsidiary of Thomson-Houston Electric, a company which later evolved into General Electric.

In 2022, Technicolor sold the trademark and licensing rights to the RCA brand and logos to Talisman Brands, Inc.{{cite web | url=https://www.technicolor.com/license | title=License }}

RCA sponsored the Argentinian football club San Lorenzo de Almagro from 2005 until 2007, and the Argentinian football club Estudiantes de La Plata from 2008 to mid-2011. It currently sponsors Racing Club de Avellaneda, another first division Argentinean football club.

In the mid-1990s, RCA bought the naming rights to the Hoosier Dome (the original home of the Indianapolis Colts). The stadium became the RCA Dome and was known as such until it was demolished in December 2008 when the Colts departed for the new Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center was expanded onto the RCA Dome footprint.

RCA was the main sponsor for the No. 98 Cale Yarborough Motorsports team in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series with drivers Jeremy Mayfield from 1995-1996 and with John Andretti in 1997. They appeared on the No. 00 Quin Houff in 2021 as a throwback to the above mentioned No. 98 car.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.rca.com/us_en/ RCA website]

RCA

Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions