Editing Kermit the Frog (section)

===Merchandising===
Jim Henson's characters, including the Muppets, have inspired merchandise internationally, with Chris Bensch, chief curator of [[Rochester, New York]]'s [[The Strong National Museum of Play]], reporting "There seems to have been a particular craze for Kermit the Frog in [[Japan]]," likely due to the "[[cuteness]] appeal".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/03/11/henson-family-triggers-muppet-outbreak-strong/81638918/|first1=Jeff|last1=Spevak|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016|title=Henson family triggers Muppet outbreak at The Strong|newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle|archive-date=March 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302233906/https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/03/11/henson-family-triggers-muppet-outbreak-strong/81638918/|url-status=live}}</ref> Baby Kermit [[plush toys]] became popular in the 1980s after the success of ''[[Muppet Babies (1984 TV series)|Muppet Babies]].''<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bellomo|first1=Mark|title=Totally Tubular '80s Toys|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=978-1440216473|page=147|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CF8AjVJXvH0C&q=kermit|language=en|date=September 15, 2010}}</ref>

In 1991, one year after Jim Henson died, merchandise featuring Kermit and other Muppet characters was being sold at Disney theme parks, causing [[The Jim Henson Company|Henson Associates]] to file a lawsuit against Disney for [[copyright infringement]]. Henson alleged that the "counterfeit merchandise" falsely indicated that the characters belonged to Disney, although the latter company had the right to exercise use of the characters due to an earlier [[licensing]] agreement.<ref name="DisneyLicense" /> The Henson Associates highlighted a [[T-shirt]] displaying Kermit, the Disney brand, and a [[copyright symbol]]. Disney representative Erwin Okun said the lawsuit was "outrageous" and "an unfortunate break with the legacy of a fine relationship with Disney that Jim Henson left behind".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/18/business/the-media-business-kermit-the-frog-in-new-role-plaintiff.html|title=Kermit the Frog in New Role: Plaintiff|access-date=July 26, 2016|date=April 18, 1991|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819063343/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/18/business/the-media-business-kermit-the-frog-in-new-role-plaintiff.html|archive-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref> Disney later acquired the Muppets, and thusly, clothes, toys and souvenirs depicting Kermit and the Muppets continued to be sold at Disney theme parks and stores.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Guides|first1=Birnbaum|title=Birnbaum's Disneyland 2012|publisher=Disney Electronic Content|isbn=9781423166238|page=108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-osm5QFoYsC&q=kermit&pg=PA72|language=en|date=January 17, 2012}}</ref>

The Leland Chamber of Commerce's small Kermit-themed museum set out to preserve some of the dolls and merchandise.<ref name="Grundhauser"/> In 2016, ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' reported a hat featuring Kermit sipping [[Lipton]] tea, associated with the "But That's None of My Business" [[Internet meme]], became a popular seller<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onenewspage.com/n/Sports/759otvlmb/LeBron-James-endorsement-sees-Kermit-the-Frog-hat.htm |title=LeBron James endorsement sees Kermit the Frog hat sell out |date=June 22, 2016 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |via=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721184539/http://www.onenewspage.com/n/Sports/759otvlmb/LeBron-James-endorsement-sees-Kermit-the-Frog-hat.htm |archive-date=July 21, 2017  }}</ref> after basketball player [[LeBron James]] drew attention for wearing one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/06/20/lebron-james-wears-ultimate-warrior-shirt-kermit-sipping-tea-hat-upon-arrival-in-cleveland/|title=LeBron James Wears Ultimate Warrior Shirt, 'Kermit Sipping Tea' Hat Upon Arrival in Cleveland|publisher=CBS Boston|date=June 20, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725003858/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/06/20/lebron-james-wears-ultimate-warrior-shirt-kermit-sipping-tea-hat-upon-arrival-in-cleveland/|archive-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref>